…Says statesman recasting Nigeria’s global identity, strategic direction

The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has congratulated President Bola Tinubu on the occasion of his 74th birthday, describing him as a defining figure in Nigeria’s contemporary history.

In a press statement issued on Sunday, March 29, Tunji-Ojo lauded President Tinubu’s economic reforms, noting that Tinubu’s presidency is increasingly framed not just as a tenure of governance, but as a strategic project aimed at repositioning Nigeria within the evolving architecture of global power, trade, and diplomacy.

He said, “This moment is not merely a celebration of age. It is a reflection on a presidency anchored in difficult choices, structural reform, and a deliberate recalibration of Nigeria’s place in the world.

“From the vantage point of governance, President Tinubu emerges as a leader who has prioritised long-term national transformation over short-term political convenience, choosing systemic correction over populist ease.

“At the core of this transformation lies a clearly evolving foreign policy doctrine. Under President Tinubu, Nigeria’s foreign policy is no longer driven primarily by ceremonial diplomacy.

“It is increasingly anchored in economic diplomacy with strategic intent, an approach that aligns external engagements directly with domestic economic priorities such as investment attraction, infrastructure expansion, financial credibility, and institutional reform.

“This doctrine was powerfully illustrated during President Tinubu’s recent visit to the United Kingdom, where he was received by King Charles III. The moment carried a symbolism that extended far beyond diplomatic protocol.

“It was a visual affirmation of Nigeria’s renewed relevance on the global stage, broadcast to the international community as a signal of respect, recognition, and restored stature.

For many Nigerians, this encounter represented a point of national pride. It underscored the country’s re-emergence as a serious partner in global affairs and reflected the growing confidence of major world powers  in Nigeria’s leadership and direction.

“In the language of diplomacy, such high level receptions are not merely ceremonial.

“They are indicators of trust, strategic interest, and geopolitical acknowledgment. The optics of that meeting, witnessed globally, reinforced the narrative of a nation reclaiming its voice and visibility in international relations.

“This perception of Nigeria’s renewed stature was not merely symbolic but explicitly affirmed at the highest level. As King Charles III declared at the Windsor Castle banquet: “Nigeria hasn’t merely changed. It has arrived.

“Yours is now a nation of over 230 million people with the energy, ingenuity, ambition and resolve to address the great challenges of our age.”

“Beyond symbolism, the United Kingdom engagement delivered substantive outcomes. With over $1.5 billion in investment commitments secured, cooperation has expanded into port modernisation, trade systems, immigration coordination, and security collaboration.

“Given the centrality of Lagos ports to Nigeria’s maritime economy, these developments hold significant implications for trade efficiency and economic growth.