Ministry of Foreign Affairs :: Federal Republic of Nigeria

Although Africa African Continent since independence represents the centre of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy, President Olusegun Obasanjo after being Sworn-in as a democratically elected President and Commander- in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, decided to inject a realistic approach to the Nigerian Foreign Policy Posture by embracing those continents in the globe that would stimulate and encourage political, cultural, and Socio-economic growth of the country.
In considering this fact, the reality of the contemporary diplomacy in the fast changing world was timely recognized and adopted as a rational method of approaching, formulating, and implementing the Nigerian Foreign policies by the Obasanjo’s administration since May 1999.
To this end, there was a conscious effort and urgent need for the administration to re-examine the Nigerian Foreign Policy to show a renewed interest in relating with countries in the North and South America, as well as the Caribbean Region.

American and Caribbean Affairs Division basically deal with all political, cultural, and Socio-economic matters and / or development in the relations between Nigeria and countries in the North South America, as well as the Caribbean countries. The Division also handles all matters pertaining to officials’ visits of government officials to countries in the Americas and the Caribbean. It records all political, cultural, and Socio-economic events in the area of bilateral relations between Nigeria and the countries of the Americas and the Caribbean.

It also participates in the activities of Joint Commission negotiation between Nigeria and the countries in the Americas and the Caribbean. It is pertinent to point out here that American and Caribbean Affairs Division plays a major role in improving Nigeria’s relations with Americas and Caribbean Countries. Nigeria has since Independence established a cordial and friendly relation with all countries in Americas and the Caribbean. Although it has not been possible for obvious reasons for Nigeria to maintain resident diplomatic Missions in all the countries in the American and Caribbean Region, a diplomatic arrangement has been put in place for most of the countries in American and Caribbean region to be concurrently accredited to and be covered by Nigerian resident diplomatic missions in that continent.

To this end, Nigeria presently maintains resident diplomatic and consular Missions in Washington D.C, New York, Atlanta Georgia, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Brasilia, Havana, Kingston, and Port of Spain. The Nigerian Mission in Mexico City has been closed down by Federal government of Nigeria. Nigeria’s relations with the countries of Americas and the Caribbean have improved tremendously. The atmosphere is now ripe for Nigeria to avail herself of the economic and technological strength and development of the American and Caribbean Region in developing her economy in the areas such as Manufacturing and Servicing, Mining, Forestry, Agriculture, Health, Fishing, Telecommunications, etc. In the same vein American and Caribbean countries should also avails themselves of the potentials and opportunities available in various Sectors of Nigerian economy, especially in the areas of agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, telecommunications and Energy.

Basic Functions

The following are the basic functions of the division:

Initiating the formulation, articulation and implementation of
Nigerian Foreign Policy as it relates to the projection, protection
and promotion of Nigeria’s national interest in the American and
Caribbean nations.
Conducting government business in relation to bilateral political
Relations between Nigeria and American/Caribbean countries.
Monitoring and examining of Missions’ reports on political developments within the American and Caribbean region and making suitable recommendations thereon.
Preparation of Briefs on the various countries, their political activities, and the state of their relations with Nigeria for the use of the Ministry and the Presidency.
Participation in Joint Commissions between Nigeria and the countries in American and Caribbean region.
Coordination of official visits, consultations and interactions with the authorities, and organisations within the region.
Representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in liaison with the Presidency, Federal and State Ministries in all matters affecting Nigeria’s national interests in the American and Caribbean sub-region.
Supervision of the activities of the Nigerian Embassies, permanent Mission and Consulates General in the sub-region, i.e. Washington, New York, Atlanta, Ottawa, Mexico City, Havana, Kinston, Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Port of Spain and Caracas, and their countries of concurrent accreditation.
Liaison with Foreign Missions accredited to Nigeria by the governments of the nations within the region on bilateral issues.

VISION AND TARGETS

As an operational arm of Nigeria’s diplomatic machinery, the division visualizes itself benefiting from the on-going reforms to attain a higher level of efficiency in:

The promotion and protection of Nigerian national interests in all American and the Caribbean countries.
Ensuring effective coordination and control of the activities of
Nigerian Missions within its watch.
Achieving and sustaining excellent bilateral relations between Nigeria and all the countries in the sub region through effective interaction with American and the Caribbean missions accredited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Guaranteeing that Nigeria and the countries of the American and the Caribbean region maintain mutually beneficial positions in all international for a including the United Nations.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Instructions have been issued for the closure of our mission in Mexico. This has been conveyed to the Mission concerned and through the Mission, to the Mexican authorities.