Nigeria must abandon “knee-jerk diplomacy” of announcing actions without an implementation framework — Professor Olawuyi, SAN

Teacher Damilola Sunday Olawuyi (SAN) East A globally recognized teacher of energy And environmental law, current president of THE United Country Functioning Band on Business And Human Rights, president of THE International Law Association (Nigerian bifurcate) And Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic, Research And International Partnerships) has Afe Babalola University, Teen Ekiti. In This interview with YÉJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE, he speak on Nigeria stranger policy agenda, challenges of diplomatic success In 2023, international law And diplomacy In terms of to secure significant influx of stranger direct investment And miscellaneous problems. Excerpts:

As A member of THE governing advice of THE Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) And member of THE UN Functioning Band on Business And Human Rights, What East your assessment of THE progress do SO far on Nigeria stranger policy agenda?

Indeed, THE Bolas Tinubu administration took desk with A wish has put international diplomacy has THE center of THE country development strategy. Most especially to secure stranger offers And investments that will deliver fast economic development, job And Infrastructure funding necessary has elevator OUR people out of poverty. There to have Indeed has been positive panels of such increase global commitments, with Nigeria playing key the roles In landmark international summits such as THE UN General Assembly In New York And THE most recent COP-28 In Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

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However, 2023 was in general A slow And disappointing to start In terms of clear And perceptible stranger policy agenda. Early errors such as THE outrage And backlash that dragged THE precipitate reminder of Nigerian Ambassadors East A avoidable embarrassment For A country of Nigeria stature.

Furthermore, more that six month After socket desk, a lot of OUR diplomatic missions to have No clear direction structure In place, while uncertainties Also surround OUR representation In UN body. This means that No matter THE excellent progress THE president makes When he embarks on stranger missions, there East little Or No structure In place For clear And exploitable follow up. No country will feel confident has to commit with A ambassador of which future East suspended In THE balance. There East, SO, A urgent need has solve THE appointment of new And to come back ambassadors as Soon as possible, including Nigeria representation has UN body such as WTO, WIPO And UNESCO, among others. Furthermore, Governments answers has THE different coups status In neighbor African countries were Above all precipitate And inconsistent.

There East A clear And urgent need has reset OUR stranger diplomacy And move far Since What I call " a reflex diplomacy' In which Actions are announcement without clear Implementation frame. We need has articulate A clear And favorable for investment stranger diplomacy frame that will bring about international development funding necessary has to grow OUR domestic economy. Nigeria has A huge funding gap. We to have A plot of projects that need has be completed, GOOD roads, education, health care, but We simply don't do it to have THE money. In This situation, What TO DO other countries TO DO? They to try has secure THE best offers that will deliver win-win results In terms of international funding And development. As I said earlier, In international law, You don't do it get What You deserve, You get What You negotiate. SO, he East imperative For We has send THE best spirits that can negotiate THE best offers For We. Mobilization adequate international And domestic finance should SO be THE urgent focal indicate of OUR international diplomacy.

A key issue For Nigeria East how has stay competitive In A time of reduced request For oil And gas. What should be THE to focus of Nigeria stranger diplomacy In This area?

I am A strong lawyer of A just, Understood And ordered energy transition that leaves No country, No person, Or No sector behind. HAS THE last UN General Assembly In New York, I book A report of OUR functioning band title 'Extractive Sector, Just Transition And Human Rights' In which I called For international solidarity has ensure that global efforts has transition has weak carbon energy sources TO DO not constrain progress on human rights And THE United Country Sustainable Development Goals, especially In development countries such as Nigeria.

THE energy transition can't reproduce Or create new shapes of human rights abuses, including unemployment, social exclusions, to land caught, poverty, energy insecurity And conflict risks. Without adequate guarantees, development countries can become THE sacrificial lambs For net...