Nigeria's Foreign Policy Focuses on Demography, Says Minister

During the National Diaspora Day 2026 and Merit Award Dinner at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, the Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, declared that demography is now the primary focus of Nigeria's reformulated 4-Ds foreign policy, which includes Demography, Development, Democracy, and Diaspora. He stated that the Renewed Hope Agenda prioritizes the Nigerian people in all external engagements.

Enikanolaiye rejected negative narratives surrounding migration, advocating for its recognition as talent circulation and a benefit to both Nigeria and host countries. He cited Central Bank estimates of $6 million monthly and $21.8 billion annual remittances, noting that these figures likely underrepresent the actual volume due to undocumented transactions.

The Minister called for improved mechanisms to harness remittances for productive sectors and emphasized the diaspora's role as a strategic asset for diplomacy and development. He linked ongoing economic reforms to the Demography pillar, aiming to enhance Nigeria's attractiveness for diaspora contributions.