President Jonathan tasks Foreign Service Officials on Nigeria’s image

[TGD]

[attachimg=1] President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday tasked Nigeria's foreign service officials on the twin issues of professionalism and projection of the true image of the nation to the outside world.

Commissioning the new Foreign Ministry building in Abuja yesterday which has now been named after Nigeria's first Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, the president said there was no longer any "excuse for poor performance" as a state-of-the-art and "culturally correct" headquarters building with effective connectivity to all the nation's 104 missions abroad has now been put in place.

The once abandoned multiple-winged eight-storey complex supported by oval foyers, was meant to be a toast to the hub of a vibrant and responsive foreign policy. Thrice gutted by fire, the last being in 2006, the edifice is the only uncompleted structure in the chain of buildings that constitute the federal secretariat complex in the Central Business District (CBD).

Its foundation was laid in 2001 but had gone through interminable delays with variations upon variations. The first N4 billion was approved for it by former military head of state Gen. Abusalami Abubakar in 1998. But the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo approved another contract in November 2000.

After many contractors, the edifice was brought to its finishing line by Bullet Nigeria Ltd with Habitat Associates as consultants. The building was initially awarded to an Italian firm – G Cappa. The contract was terminated following perceived tardiness. But only after it had gulped a whooping N1.7 billion, according to ministry sources.  The last time a date was fixed for the commissioning of the complex was July 2010 ahead of Nigeria's 50th anniversary celebrations.

The president who spoke yesterday through his deputy, Nnamadi Sambo said now that "the masterpiece of great Nigerian architectural design and a monumental diplomatic statement in the heart of Nigeria is up for use, the cause of the nation's foreign policy will be well served."

To the foreign service officials, he said "you are saddled with the responsibility of projecting Nigeria's image in the world. It (building facilities) would strengthen the desire of the present administration to re-position Nigeria globally and the defence of the nation's interest as well as the protection of the rights of Nigerians anywhere in the world for which our embassies are our clearing houses. Sound diplomacy is a natural complement of our true image which should now be projected relentlessly."

Speaker after speaker at yesterday's event glossed over the exact cost expended on the building which independent sources have put at N13 billion. In his remarks after the commissioning, Foreign Affairs Minister Odein Ajumogobia said Nigeria finally has the sort of enabling environment for foreign service officials to perform their duty since the initial approval for it was given in 1990 when the military regime of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida first decreed that all ministries and parastatals moved to the federal capital territory.

According to him, "this represents a bold and assertive statement of the new vigour that would mark Nigeria's foreign policy as we seek to emulate the significance of

the golden voice and the golden era of the nation's foreign policy epitomised by the famous Nigeria Has Come of Age address of the late Gen. Murtala Mohammed.

Permanent secretary in the ministry, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi who conducted members of the diplomatic corps, former ministers, ambassadors and government functionaries round the complex said what Nigeria now has as diplomatic headquarters building compares with any such edifice around the world. Books on Nigerian nationalism on display at the gallery of the new building yesterday and presented to the vice president include the History of Nigeria in three volumes by Uhomoibhi, Anyanwu, T. Solala and Mahadi as well as Lawrence Obisankin's Protocol for Life, Ifeoma Chinwuba's classic – Waiting For Maria – as well as the Diplomacy of Economic Development by Ambassador Godknows Igali.

Source: Jonathan tasks foreign service officials on Nigeria's image