Abuja – Nigeria’s  foreign policy remains unchanged but its implementation will be more pointed and assertive, Foreign Affairs Minister Odein Ajumogobia  said  on Friday in Abuja.

Ajumogobia,   who briefed members of  the diplomatic corps on the April general elections,  said  Nigeria would continue to pursue an independent foreign policy driven by national interest.

“We shall vigorously and sensibly pursue a foreign policy that reflects the aspirations of our new Nigeria,’’ he said.

The nation’s foreign policy thrusts include   maintaining regional and international peace as well as  security.

Ajumogobia also said the country would pursue  robust multilateral diplomacy  which would not be  at the expense of  its bilateral relations.

He, however, stressed   the need for  strong partnership with friendly countries while expressing Nigeria’s support for UN reforms.

“We support on-going discussions on reforming the UN, in particular the expansion of the Security Council to correct imbalance by which significant regions of the world are either not represented at all, as with Africa,  or under-represented  as with Asia,’’ he said.

On the recent elections, the minister said the polls brought  about a change in the nation’s electoral landscape.

He said with  President  Goodluck Jonathan’s victory at the polls, he had been given “a pan-Nigeria mandate and he intends to be president to all Nigerians.’’

“As far as these elections are concerned, one thing over which there is a substantial consensus is that these were very well conducted and successful elections.

“ Everyone, curiously even  the dissenting voices in the main opposition parties,  have reaffirmed the effectiveness and integrity of  Prof.  Attahiru Jega and applauded INEC’s performance and effectiveness, ’’ he added.

He noted that the controversies that trailed the 2007 elections led to the reform of  the electoral process which also paved the way for the  credible, transparent, free and fair polls.

The minister also described the role of the  international observers as “truly remarkable.’’

Ajumogobia, however , dismissed reports that elections in the country were synonymous with violence.

“ Violence is not an integral part of elections in Nigeria as some critics would like to suggest. Nigeria had conducted violence-free elections in the past,  especially in 1979, 1993 and 1999 respectively.

“It is clear that several of the young persons who took to the streets in some parts of the country after elections generally deemed free and fair, did so not because they have issues with the integrity of these elections, but principally because of their manipulation by disgruntled elements,’’ he said.

He expressed government’s commitment to addressing youth employment, restiveness and infrastructure development.

In his remarks, Dean of  the Corps, Amb. Dramane Yameogo,  commended Nigeria for conducting credible general  elections,  noting  that the diplomatic corps observed the polls nationwide.

Yameogo, who described the exercise as an achievement for Africa, said Nigeria’s democracy was a model for other nations.(NAN)