Abuja — In line with his promise to make changes in critical sectors President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday ordered immediate review of Nigeria’s foreign policy, to reflect current realities.
President Jonathan who gave the directive during a breakfast meeting with the Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations at State House noted that it was necessary to review the country’s foreign policy, fifty years after Independence.
He said “After fifty years of independence, it is time to review the country’s foreign policy, in line with modern realities and international developments’.
President Jonathan agreed with Amb. Emeka Anyaoku, Chairman of the Advisory Council that the highly successful, transparent and credible elections conducted by Nigeria had elevated the country’s democratic credentials in the international community, pledging to ensure even better elections in 2015.
President Jonathan said “From 2007, we committed ourselves to credible elections by setting up the Mohammed Uwais Committee, and this is the result of those efforts”.
The President expressed appreciation to members of the Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations for their consistent credible advice, and for congratulating him for his victory in the world-acclaimed national elections.
Earlier, Amb. Emeka Anyaoku had congratulated President Jonathan for his success in the elections, and for delivering on his ‘promise to conduct credible elections’. The Council offered suggestions on several areas of national and international interests .
Meanwhile Presiden Jonathan has said his Administration would pay special attention to the strengthening of economic relations with the international community.
The President was speaking to five new ambassadors at the presentation of their letters of credence during different ceremonies at State House yesterday.
The new ambassadors are Mr. Nyahuma Mentuhotep Obika of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Alvaro Castillo Aguilar of Spain, Mr. Ali Abdo Suleiman of Ethiopia, Mr. Alain Aime Nyamitwe of Burundi and Mr. Issa Ibrahim of Chad.
He said, “in the next four years, we will pay special attention to the improvement and strengthening of economic ties with our partners in the international community, as a foundation for stability and growth of our country”.
President Jonathan told Mr. Obika of Trinidad and Tobago that Nigeria was interested in cooperation in the oil and gas sector, while he welcomed the proposal for energy cooperation by Mr. Aguilar of Spain.
All the new ambassadors congratulated President Jonathan for ‘winning a well-conducted national election’ and assured him of the cooperation and support of their individual countries in the efforts to strengthen economic, social and cultural relations.
Author: Chief Editor
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