Says Nigeria Should Leverage Citizen Spending Abroad
…Urges Govt To Rethink Diplomatic Strategies
Daud Olatunji
Former Lagos State Governor and Minister, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), has urged the Federal Government to adopt a firm and assertive stance against international visa restrictions, insisting that Nigeria should protect its dignity rather than plead with other nations for access.
Fashola spoke on Tuesday at the Inaugural Nigeria Reputation Summit, organised by the Nigerian Reputation Management Group (NRMG) in Abuja, stressing that how Nigeria responds to travel bans has far-reaching implications for the nation’s image and diplomatic standing.
His remarks come in the wake of U.S. travel restrictions which took effect on January 1, 2026, under Presidential Proclamation 10998, suspending immigrant visa processing for Nigerians, alongside citizens of Russia, Somalia, Brazil, and Afghanistan.
Highlighting the economic power of Nigerians abroad, Fashola said:
“We are at the point where some countries have the audacity to tell us, ‘don’t come to our country.’
“Are we to be submissive and apologetic, or are we really the giants we claim to be? One of the things I learned early in life is the power of the customer. In all those places where we are harassed, we go there and spend real money.
“Let us rethink how we protect our dignity while addressing reputational challenges.”
The former minister also called for highly competent ambassadors, stressing that diplomatic postings must go beyond protocol and social functions to include in-depth knowledge of Nigeria’s policies, fiscal realities, investment incentives, and sectoral priorities.
He recounted an official visit to an African country where the Nigerian ambassador was ill-prepared to explain the country’s policy positions, arguing that diplomats should actively attract investments and promote Nigeria internationally.
Addressing Nigeria’s global image, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, called for collective responsibility from citizens, professionals, institutions, and the private sector in building and safeguarding the country’s reputation.
Idris noted the significance of Nigeria’s first National Reputation Perception Index, unveiled by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), as a tool for understanding local and international perceptions of the country.
While acknowledging that Nigeria remains in a “low-trust category,” he added that significant progress has been made under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
He also dismissed claims of religious intolerance in Nigeria, describing them as false narratives and stressed that the government is actively correcting these through diplomacy, enhanced security, and sustained engagement with international partners.
Chief Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, NRMG Chairman, said the summit was convened to launch a deliberate national conversation on reputation management, moving the country from reactive responses to strategic engagement on the global stage.
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