Senate Confirms Sola Enikanolaiye as Foreign Affairs Minister

On Wednesday, the Nigerian Senate confirmed Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, granting him a clear mandate to implement result-driven foreign policies aimed at protecting Nigerians abroad and restoring the country's diplomatic influence. This confirmation followed a screening session led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Enikanolaiye stated that Nigeria can no longer rely on routine condemnations in response to recurring xenophobic attacks, particularly in South Africa and Ghana, where Nigerians have faced harassment and violence. He outlined a tougher foreign policy that includes visible strategic actions and direct presidential engagement.

Enikanolaiye also addressed structural challenges undermining Nigeria's diplomatic missions, such as chronic underfunding and delays in budget releases, which affect local staff salaries and welfare. He noted that Nigeria owns 500 properties worldwide, many of which are underutilized, and proposed adopting a public-private partnership framework to unlock economic value from these assets.