Report says Tinubu’s foreign policy not yielding desired results yet  

President Bola Tinubu’s first year in office has been marked by notable contradictions between his local and foreign affairs, according to a recent analysis by Dataphyte.

Dataphyte is a media research and data analytics organisation deploying data tools and technology for the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

In a report by the media research and data analytics organisation seen by PUNCH Online on Monday, a comprehensive analysis of the President’s foreign policy done by Dataphyte’s Policy Analyst, Adabyo Abdulrahman, revealed moderate successes marred by significant challenges.

The report noted that in July last year, six weeks into his administration, Tinubu was elected chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States.

However, the subsequent coup in the neighbouring Niger Republic presented a major foreign policy challenge, testing Tinubu’s resolve and ECOWAS leadership.

Dataphyte highlighted Tinubu’s condemnation of the coup and how he led ECOWAS to impose sanctions, including a no-fly zone and border closures, which were intended as a deterrent but ultimately failed.

It noted that the crisis deepened when Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso, withdrew from ECOWAS, forming the Alliance of Sahel States.

”In February, following a meeting of the ECOWAS in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, it announced the reversal of the sanctions placed on the three countries, urging them to rescind their decision to leave.

”The failure of a Tinubu-led ECOWAS to resolve the crisis underscores the fall in Nigeria’s influence within the region and headlines the poor outing of his foreign policy approach within his first year in office,” the report stated.

On the economy, the report stated that Tinubu’s administration has prioritised economic diplomacy, seeking foreign investments amid domestic economic reforms like the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira.

It said the President had actively marketed Nigeria at various international forums, but stressed that the business environment at home remains challenging, driving existing investors away.

Another major crux of these efforts, according to Dataphyte, is that the Presidency has hugged avoidable and unnecessary controversies in the process.

”For example, following the Nigeria-US Executive Business Roundtable, the Presidency released a statement where it claimed Tinubu had become the ‘first-ever African leader to ring the closing bell at NASDAQ.’

”This claim was later found to be false because former President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania rang the Nasdaq closing bell in September 2011, forcing the Presidency to publish a retraction,” the report highlighted.

On Tinubu’s 4-D doctrine, the report stated that despite its launch, significant progress remains elusive. The President’s 4Ds policy is hinged on Development, Democracy, Demography, and Diaspora.

”Four months after the launch of this policy, there has been no distinct difference in the output of its foreign policy efforts,” the report added.

Credit: The Punch