The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has disclosed that Nigeria’s 4-Ds foreign policy agenda is targeted towards getting a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council.He disclosed this while delivering a lecture on “The Foreign Policy Agenda under the Tinubu Administration” at the Annual Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN) Foreign Policy Lecture in Abuja on Thursday.He said the Democracy in 4-Ds called for democracy in global organisations and institutions that remain exclusive clubs under “sketchy criteria”.“4-Ds require working for Nigeria’s permanent membership of the UNSC, G20 and all other relevant groupings where democratic norms, size of population and size of the economy ought to be the yardstick for membership.“Nigeria’s agitation for a permanent UNSC seat is historic; President (Bola) Tinubu unequivocally demanded membership of the G20 during its 80th Summit in India, AU admittance notwithstanding, the 4-Ds Tinubu Doctrine is at work.”Tuggar also said President Tinubu’s 4-Ds would amplify the country’s decision to stay neutral in international politics.“For those who may still not be familiar with the 4-Ds, they are Democracy, Development, Demography and Diaspora.“The kernel of the 4-Ds is Strategic Autonomy in an increasingly polarised global setting, as Nigeria seeks to maintain its independence and freedom of choice to deal with all friendly nations. Describe it, if you will as Nigeria continuing in its tradition of non-alignment.”He said the Democracy in the 4-Ds demands the use of proactive diplomacy in reversing the trend of coups in West Africa and the African continent in general.“The seeming domino effect of military coups and unconstitutional changes in government in our West African region and beyond calls for proactive diplomacy in order to reverse the trend and restore peace.“The threat to peace from terrorism and irridentism in the Sahel can only be countered with a solid foundational basis of constitutional governance, strong democratic institutions and an alliance of democratic countries in the region,” he said.He said Nigeria, being Africa’s largest democracy would pull its weight to ally with other democracies and constitutional governments to reverse the trend.Speaking earlier, Amb. John K. Shinkaiye, President of ARCAN, said Nigeria was facing significant security challenges including terrorism, insurgency and internal conflicts, adding that dealing with these issues would require collaborating with regional, continental and global partners.“The foreign policy of any nation is very important and requires input from many sectors including an Association such as ours,” he said.
