ABUJA—THE Senate, yesterday, asked the Federal Government to carry out holistic review of Nigeria’s foreign policy with a view to protecting investors and businessmen in other countries assisted by Nigeria to gain freedom, peace and security, who have suddenly turned against the country and become hostile to its citizenry.
The Senate had also urged the Federal Government to convene a foreign policy summit that would, among others, address issues on re-defining Nigeria’s interests to focus the policy in addressing the global realities.
According to the Senate, it was sad that the fundamental principles and objectives of Nigeria’s foreign policy invented by the first Prime Minister of Nigeria, Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, had remained unaltered irrespective of the different changes in government till date.
Against this backdrop, the Senate had directed its Committee on Foreign Affairs and other relevant committees to investigate several alleged maltreatment and killings of Nigerians abroad as well as take into a consideration the Doctrine of Diplomatic Reciprocity in its activities and report back in four weeks.
According to the Senate, the government should “go forward, imbibe Nigeria’s economic interest as vital component of our foreign policy objectives, especially in countries where the nation invested her enormous human and material resources for restore security, peace, stability and democracy as the era of Father Christmas Diplomacy is certainly over.”
These resolutions were sequel to a motion by Senator Stella Oduah (PDP Anambra North) and entitled, ‘The urgent need to re-assess Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives in line with emerging economic realities.’
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