Britain expresses satisfaction with the improvements Nigeria is making to combat insecurity

BRITAIN has expressed satisfaction with the improvements Nigeria's government has made with regards to addressing the country's security challenges over the last year as well as the strides that that have been taken to improve transparency and accountability in governance.

Speaking earlier today during a high-level dialogue on delivering President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, titled Nigeria’s Global Ambitions: From Hope to Reality, Richard Montgomery, the British high commissioner to Nigeria, pledged London's continued support for the government. He said the UK is impressed by the security strategies President Tinubu has put in place over the last year.

According to Mr Montgomery, the UK has also observed transparency and accountability in governance in the Tinubu administration. He added:  “I’d like to use this opportunity to express the whole lot of support of my government to the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu.

"We commend his agenda for its focus on priorities and delivery. We acknowledge that you have done a lot to put in place transparency and accountability.”

At the event, vice president Alhaji Kashim Shettima said the Renewed Hope Agenda is a transformative policy thrust aimed at repositioning Nigeria as a prime global investment destination. He added that the agenda hinged on the core pillars of democracy, development, demographics and diaspora engagement.

According to the vice president, the present moment serves as the opportune time to remind both Nigerians and the global community that Nigeria stands ready to embrace the future and conduct business. He outlined the administration’s ambitious roadmap, noting President Tinubu’s commitment to bold reforms and strategic partnerships to revive the nation’s economy and enhance security.

Alhaji Shettima said: “Our reason for this gathering is less about the certainty of our vision for this nation, this has never been in doubt. We are here because of our place in a world of opportunities, a world that can’t afford to neglect or underestimate our place. The Renewed Hope Agenda is not just a policy framework, it is a statement of commitment, a covenant between us and the people.”

He pointed out that at the heart of the administration’s foreign policy approach, dubbed the Tinubu Doctrine, is a Four-D Diplomacy Strategy centred on promoting democracy, driving economic development, harnessing Nigeria’s demographic potential and engaging with the diaspora community. Alhaji Shettima lauded the vital role of Nigerians in the diaspora, who contributed over $168bn in remittances between 2015 and 2022, surpassing overseas development assistance.

Alhaji Shettima also highlighted President Tinubu’s interventions on the economy, including a ₦75bn investment initiative to revolutionise the manufacturing sector and the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund to facilitate effective infrastructure development across key economic sectors. He went on extend an invitation to international partners, emphasising the need for collaboration in the post-Covid-19 era.