President Bola Tinubu has approved the allocation of plots of land to Nigerian ambassadors and high commissioners-designate in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory minister, Nyesom Wike, disclosed on Wednesday.

Wike made the announcement while receiving the envoys on a courtesy visit at his official residence in Life Camp, Abuja.

The delegation was led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dunoma Umar Ahmed, as part of an induction programme for the newly appointed diplomats.

According to the minister, the president’s decision was driven by the need to give Nigeria’s overseas representatives a permanent foothold in the capital for when they return for periodic briefings.

“The President believes that most of you do not have a place in Abuja… he will encourage you to see how you will put up where you can stay. Before you leave this morning, each and every one of you should have your form to apply for a land allocation in Abuja,” Wike said.

Beyond the land gesture, Wike used the occasion to charge the envoys with the responsibility of defending and projecting Nigeria’s international standing. “You are, in essence, the mirror of this country. The way the world sees you is the way it will see Nigeria,” he said.

He tasked them with reinforcing the economic diplomacy work that President Tinubu had been conducting through extensive foreign engagements.

Mr President has travelled extensively to attract investment and partnerships. It is now your role to reinforce that effort by building confidence in Nigeria as a viable destination for investment,” the minister stated.

On the question of Nigeria’s democratic credentials — a concern that has gained traction in some quarters — Wike said, “Nigeria remains a multi-party democracy. There is no plan to turn the country into a one-party state. You must communicate this clearly wherever you serve,” he said.

The minister also drew attention to development opportunities in the FCT, pointing to infrastructure expansion across the six area councils — Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali — as evidence of Abuja’s growing stature as a global capital.

He specifically called on the envoys to attract investors into agriculture and waste management, noting that arable land in Gwagwalada and Kwali remained largely untapped.

“There is enormous potential in agriculture within the FCT, but investment is still limited. We need your support to unlock these opportunities,” he said.

Wike also announced ongoing partnership talks with Saudi Arabia and Egypt to develop key sectors, as well as plans to engage the European Commission on development cooperation.

He expressed confidence in Nigeria’s near-term prospects, saying: “I remain confident that by 2027, Nigeria will be more peaceful, more united, and stronger as a nation.”

Earlier in his address, Permanent Secretary Ahmed said the visit was designed to impress upon the envoys the strategic importance of the FCT in the country’s foreign relations architecture.

He described Abuja as Nigeria’s administrative and diplomatic nerve centre and said the ambassadors had been deployed at a critical moment in the country’s development.

“Our Ambassadors and High Commissioners have been entrusted with representing Nigeria at a pivotal moment in our nation’s development,” he said, adding that economic diplomacy and investment promotion would be central to their mandates.

Ahmed praised the transformation of the FCT under Wike’s stewardship, arguing that the visible improvements in infrastructure, urban management and service delivery were themselves assets for Nigeria’s international image.

He called for closer collaboration between foreign missions and the FCT administration on investment promotion, cultural exchange and urban development. (Vanguard)

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