By Victoria Ojeme

ABUJA — AS part of the effort to acquaint members of the diplomatic community with the direction of its foreign policy, the Federal Government, yesterday, summoned foreign ambassadors serving in Nigeria for a meeting.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who addressed over 50 envoys present at the maiden meeting, said the country’s foreign policy would seek to pursue the three pillars that constitute the domestic priority programmes of the present administration.

According to Onyeama, these key programmes, which include combating insecurity, the fight against corruption and rejuvenating the declining economy, constitute the major operational challenges of our foreign policy.

The minister, who called for international support towards achieving the President Muhammadu Buhari change agenda, said an effective and dynamic foreign policy requires a solid and functional domestic base.

He said: “Accordingly, the overall goal of our diplomatic exertions, to be pursued in the context of the three pillars of the present administration, is to facilitate the emergence of a secure, stable, viable, resilient and prosperous Nigerian state.

“On combating insecurity, our foreign policy exertions will seek to consolidate and strengthen cooperation and partnerships at the regional, continental and global levels.

“In the fight against corruption, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will synergise with other relevant ministries and agencies with a view to supporting their activities. In this regard, we will place our diplomatic resources and reach at their disposal in monitoring, tracing and facilitating the recovery of stolen funds and assets stashed abroad.”

Onyeama, who noted the magnitude of illegal activities in Nigeria’s oil sector, called for the support of their governments and organisations in persuading multinational oil companies, international financial institutions and international shipping lines to cooperate fully with the efforts of the Nigerian government in cleaning up the sector.