From Bello Wakili (Abuja)
President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigeria’s new Ambassadors to project the country as a great country and a good investment destination, in their various places of assignment.
He made the call while virtually declaring open an induction programme for Ambassadors-designate, held at the headquarters of the National Intelligence Agency, Abuja.
The Nigerian leader reminded the diplomats, who would soon be posted to serve as the country’s representatives abroad, to be exemplary in their conducts.
He reminded the Ambassadors of his administration’s nine priority areas of building a thriving and sustainable economy, poverty reduction, food security and fight against corruption among others, which will help attain sustainable development as well as guide its foreign policy objective.
He therefore urged them to be guided by the priority goals as they represent Nigeria in foreign lands, adding that government expects them to also protect the interest of Nigerians residing in those countries.
President Buhari made reference to how COVID-19 has ravaged the world and the need to thread carefully and embrace the new norm.
He said traditional challenges of terrorism, violent extremism, climate change, poverty, population explosion, cybercrimes, proliferation of arms and many others, which have negatively impacted Nigeria and other parts of Africa, remain part of the nation’s critical challenges.
President Buhari had last month approved and directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to post 95 new Ambassadors, to serve in the country’s missions abroad.
They are expected to resume their tour of duty at the end of their induction exercise.