Nigeria Praises ASEAN for Diplomatic Engagements

The Nigerian government, represented by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, commended member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for their adherence to established diplomatic channels during a courtesy visit from the Ambassador of the Philippines to Nigeria, Mersole J. Mellejor, in Abuja. Enikanolaiye noted that while many ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam, maintain proper diplomatic decorum, some missions in Abuja have bypassed official channels, a practice he warned would no longer be tolerated.

He reaffirmed Nigeria's commitment to enhancing relations with the Philippines and other ASEAN nations under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, highlighting Nigeria's positive economic trajectory and openness to partnerships. Enikanolaiye urged the Philippines to expedite the signing of a visa-waiver agreement and welcomed its decision to construct a permanent embassy in Abuja, marking 65 years of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and the Philippines.