FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has announced that President Bola Tinubu has approved the allocation of land to Nigeria’s newly designated ambassadors and high commissioners in Abuja, a gesture aimed at ensuring that the country’s overseas representatives have a permanent home in the capital when they return for official briefings and consultations.
Wike made the announcement when he received the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dunoma Umar Ahmed, and the ambassadors-designate on a courtesy visit to his official residence in Life Camp, Abuja.
He explained that the president believed most of the newly appointed envoys did not have residential property in Abuja and had directed that each be provided an opportunity to apply for land allocation in the capital to address that gap. He said each envoy would receive a form before leaving the meeting to begin the application process.
The minister used the occasion to charge the diplomats to uphold Nigeria’s image in every posting, emphasizing that the world’s perception of them would directly shape its perception of the country they represented. He stressed the importance of effectively communicating the president’s vision and priorities, particularly in attracting foreign investment and reinforcing international confidence in Nigeria as a viable business destination.
“Mr. President has travelled extensively to attract investments and partnerships. It is now your role to reinforce that effort by building confidence in Nigeria as a viable destination for investment,” Wike said.
He also addressed concerns about Nigeria’s political direction, dismissing suggestions that the country was drifting toward a one-party state and insisting that Nigeria remained firmly committed to multi-party democracy. He urged the envoys to communicate this position clearly and confidently in their respective postings.
The minister additionally encouraged the ambassadors to actively court investors for the Federal Capital Territory, particularly in agriculture and waste management, pointing to vast underutilized arable land in Gwagwalada and Kwali as concrete investment opportunities awaiting development partners.
