Thirteen long months have passed since career and non-career ambassadors were recalled to the country without the federal government appointing a replacement.
This leaves Nigeria without the full representation of its 109 diplomatic missions comprising 76 embassies, 22 high commissions and one consulate. It would be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recalled 83 ambassadors on September 2, 2023. At the time, Presidential Spokesperson Ajri Gelare said: “The President is determined to ensure that world-class efficiency and quality characterize the delivery of domestic and international services to our citizens, residents and prospective visitors in the coming years. ” he said. ”.
The lack of full diplomatic representation in the ambassadorial position continues to cause concern to well-meaning citizens following the recall of ambassadors from overseas diplomatic missions. All regimes reserve the right to remove, appoint, or reappoint any person they believe to be adequately qualified to represent their country in other countries of the world, but any attempt to exercise this right should not be disadvantageous to the country in any way. There are so many problems with Nigeria’s self-isolation from diplomatic and economic engagement abroad. This is especially true now that globalization is forcing the world to become more independent than ever before. It is dangerous enough for a developing country like Nigeria not to have representation, especially in a country with significant economic interests.
In April this year, President Tinubu approved the appointment of 12 Consuls General (CGs) and five Charge d’Affaires (CDAs) representing Nigeria in 14 countries. Because the schedule is clearly defined, administrative restrictions may prevent you from performing certain duties reserved for ambassadors. Additionally, some host countries of our missions may be less enthusiastic about engaging with CGs and CDAs in bilateral discussions, especially in the absence of their ambassadors.
Considering diplomatic protocol and procedures, the CDA, which has been carrying out its mission in the absence of an ambassador, lacks the weight and authority appropriate to meet with the host country’s foreign minister. For example, trade negotiations are fundamentally diplomatic in nature and are issues that require significant attention from ambassadors. Without the ambassador’s follow-up on the bilateral agreements signed with the host country’s heads of government, serious rifts would have remained in Nigeria’s external space. High-level diplomatic activities typically occur in a hierarchical order with ambassadors at the head of these interactive interfaces.
Inaction on President Tinubu’s watch has consciously succeeded in giving credence to the public’s insinuations that Nigeria is retreating from the world stage. This is a very dangerous position for Nigeria’s future. The damage is compounded when the government continues to reassure the public that attracting foreign direct investment is part of its policy agenda.
Given the heavy losses Nigeria has already suffered (you can only imagine the enormity) during this long period in which Nigeria’s mission has been without an ambassador, the government is clearly ill-prepared to do so. Knowingly, he should not have remembered that he had sent a special envoy to his country. A replacement will be appointed immediately.
Ambassador Etche Abuode, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in June this year that the dispatch of an ambassador would depend on the allocation of supplementary budget. However, it is important for governments to recognize that the costs to the country of not appointing ambassadors are far greater than the perceived benefits. In fact, the economic, political, and other intangible benefits of full diplomatic representation in a country’s overseas missions far outweigh the financial burden traditionally associated with maintaining diplomats on overseas assignments.
President Tinubu has reiterated at every opportunity his administration’s desire to develop far-reaching economic policies in the country, which explains his many visits to other countries since taking office. This is in addition to hosting foreign investors and stakeholders at his office in Abuja.
Recent political developments in the West African subregion justify the request for the appointment of an ambassador. It is very worrying that the issue continues to emerge from time to time in the world diplomatic arena while Nigeria lacks a full diplomatic presence in countries and international organizations with which it is associated.
Given Nigeria’s strategic position at regional and continental levels, endless delays in the appointment of a new ambassador for the country are unacceptable. The time has come to end the full-strength operation of Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad. This is because this will have a negative impact on Nigeria’s image in the national community. As we reiterated earlier in our cautious opinion on this page of April 17, 2024, we still urge President Tinubu to follow all processes to ensure the country’s full diplomatic representation in its diplomatic missions abroad. I am asking you to complete it quickly. Nigeria needs an ambassador.
