18/02/2026
New Year Reception | Abuja – 17 February 2026
H.E. Mr. Walde Natangwe Ndevashiya, High Commissioner-Designate of the Republic of Namibia, joined members of the diplomatic community accredited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria at a New Year Reception hosted by H.E. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, OON, Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In his address, the Honourable Minister outlined Nigeria’s Foreign Policy Outlook for 2026, reaffirming Nigeria’s role as a confident, stabilising, and constructive global actor amid evolving geopolitical challenges.
Nigeria’s foreign policy in 2026 will be guided by three core priorities:
• Strategic Autonomy – safeguarding national interests through balanced global partnerships;
• Regional Stability – advancing peace, security, and democratic resilience in West Africa and the Sahel;
• Responsible Global Partnership – promoting multilateralism, dialogue, and rules-based engagement.
Reviewing 2025, Nigeria highlighted strengthened economic diplomacy, expanded investment outreach, and deeper regional integration efforts, alongside reinforced partnerships across the Global South, the Middle East, Europe, the United States, and Asia.
On regional security, Nigeria underscored the importance of coordinated, outcome-driven approaches to addressing Sahelian security challenges, while advancing democratic resilience through institutional cooperation and preventive engagement.
The Minister also noted encouraging macroeconomic reforms that have improved investor confidence and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to credible democratic processes, in collaboration with partners and institutions such as Independent National Electoral Commission.
Nigeria further reiterated its strong commitment to multilateralism and its candidatures for key international bodies, while emphasising adherence to diplomatic protocol through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the primary channel of engagement.
Nigeria enters 2026 committed to peace, economic integration, democratic governance, and constructive international cooperation, in close partnership with the diplomatic community.