The federal government has reiterated its commitment to prioritising security and harnessing the Nigerian diaspora as a critical asset for national development.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, reiterated the commitment in a statement by Richard Elesho, his special assistant on media and strategic communications.

Mr Enikanolaiye spoke at the Nigerian Diaspora Economic Conference on Saturday night in Toronto, Canada.

He also expressed the federal government’s pledge to deepen strategic partnerships anchored on mutual respect and trust to achieve the desired goal.

According to the minister, security remains a major challenge and the government is willing to do everything humanly possible to contain the scourge in a multifaceted manner.

He said that Nigeria was entering a new era of partnership and strategic autonomy with key international partners, including the U.S.

“I came in from Washington only yesterday. I was privileged to have been part of the team meeting with the Americans.

“This engagement is aimed at delivering core, concrete, positive outcomes for Nigerians in terms of security, in terms of prosperity, in terms of defence and the welfare of the Nigerian people,” he said.

On the Nigerian diaspora, the minister said that under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, the government viewed Nigerians abroad not as a burden, but as vital contributors to national progress.

“For this government, Nigerians in the diaspora are critical assets of national development.

“We see you as vital human resource capacity for Nigeria which government is trying to harness, in terms of our national development priorities,” the minister said.

He reiterated the need for stronger unity among Nigerians at home and abroad, urging citizens to break down barriers of ethnicity, religion and tribe.

“We are aware of trust deficit that exist among Nigerians. Let us try and break those barriers of ethnicity, barriers of religion, barriers of tribe.

“Let us relate on the functional aspect of cooperation that promotes production, that promotes development, that promotes growth and prosperity unto Nigerian,” he said.

He commended the role of Canada and other partners in fostering more productive partnerships based on mutual respect and cooperation, as well as stakeholders’ contributions to Nigeria’s development.

(NAN)