Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, on Wednesday rated Nigeria's current diplomatic relations with other countries in the world, especially in Africa, as 'very good.'

Anyaoku stated this while speaking to newsmen after visiting the President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, at the Defence House in Abuja.

He said that the way President Goodluck Jonathan handled diplomatic ties with the world, especially South Africa, was quite good.

According to him, I think Nigeria's relation with the world at the moment is quite good; we have had a tiff with the South African situation but not with the South African government.

"I think the xenophobic attack on foreigners in South Africa has been condemned by the South African government and I believe that the way President Jonathan has handled the issue has been very good," he stated.

Anyaoku suggested that the incoming government should build on the international relationships to avert issues like xenophobia.

"I would suggest that the incoming president will continue the personal relationship with the president of South Africa so that when incidents like that occur, the two governments will have a dialogue.

"The government of South Africa will be sensitised even more to the need to tackle the situation.

"So far, I think it is fair to say the South African government has condemned those attacks and is doing what it can to see that they do not get repeated," he said.

Anyaoku said that he was at the Defence House to congratulate Buhari and to intimate him that the people’s expectations were high as regards dividends of democracy.

He added that if Buhari's discipline and strong character were anything to go by, the country's challenges and problems would be effectively tackled.

"I had useful discussions with the president-elect, congratulated him on his victory and told him he is coming in as president on a very high wave of expectations throughout the country.

"I also told him that the high expectations are based on the promises he made during his campaign to the people, but more importantly, on the general perception of his character.

"He is perceived as a man with very strong sense of discipline, a man who is truly averse to corruption, a man whose lifestyle has been frugal, not ostentatious or opulent, and above all, a man who is very committed to the welfare of the masses.

"I believe that if his administration reflects these qualities, the country's challenges and problems would be effectively tackled," he said.

On advice to the incoming administration concerning the interests of Nigerians abroad, especially recent executions in Indonesia, Anyaoku said that there was nothing wrong with the country’s foreign policy.

"It is fair to say that Nigeria's foreign policy has remained generally the same over the last administrations.

"I am saying it having been involved in the Presidential Advisory Council that has advised administrations of Presidents Obasanjo, Yar'Adua and Jonathan.

"Our foreign policy has been soundly based on the promotion of our national interests abroad. The debacle in Indonesia is not a foreign policy issue but an issue of the behaviour of Nigerians.

"Nigerians will go to Indonesia and other countries like Malaysia, Thailand, which have a law that if you get involved in drug promotion, the penalty is capital punishment.

"The president of Indonesia will tell you that every drug pusher is responsible for the ruination of 200 families and that is why his country has taken that cue. So it is a matter of the behaviour of Nigerian citizens abroad rather than foreign policy," he