Concerns have continued to mount over the absence of envoys in Nigeria’s 109 missions, 76 embassies, 22 high commissions and 11 consulates globally as President Bola Tinubu delays appointments.
However, government officials with knowledge of the developments told Sunday PUNCH that the names of nominees would be transmitted to the National Assembly before the end of December.
Upon assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu reassessed Nigeria’s foreign policy, leading to the recall of the 83 career and non-career ambassadors from their stations.
The envoys were instructed to return to Nigeria by October 31, 2023.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said the ambassadors served at the President’s behest in their host nations and it was his “prerogative to send or recall them from any country.”
Sixteen months later, however, they have yet to be replaced, leaving a void in the service.
In that period, Tinubu has attended various high-level engagements.
On March 25, Tuggar confirmed that the ministry had compiled and forwarded the names of prospective career diplomats to the President for consideration.
Though it was unclear whether the nominees were political or career diplomats, indications suggested they primarily comprised the latter.
While career diplomats are determined by their progression through the foreign service, political diplomats are often appointees of the President.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, who earlier spoke on the issue, said such nominations must pass through a thorough process before a final list is transmitted to the National Assembly.
One official, who asked to remain anonymous as he was not authorised to speak to the press, confirmed that the appointments were imminent.
Though long anticipated, the official said there was no apparent reason for the delay.
“If he does not transmit it to the Senate this week, then he [President Tinubu] would do it before the end of the month [December],” said the official.
Earlier, a senior official in the nation’s foreign service said, “Ambassadorial appointments require approval from the National Assembly. So, the list will be submitted to the Senate President, who will then announce it. But it has not been submitted yet. I can confirm that.
“Once submitted to the Senate President, they will publish it the following day. So, that means it would be until he (President Tinubu) comes back from France and South Africa because he is going to South Africa from France for a state visit. After that, he will release it.”
In April 2024, the government appointed 12 consuls-general and five chargés d’affaires to represent Nigeria in 14 countries.
It also dispatched new consular officials in late November. However, these interim measures fall short of filling the leadership vacuum in key missions.
Consuls-general and chargés d’affaires can perform routine administrative duties and oversee an embassy’s operations. They, however, lack the diplomatic weight to engage at the highest levels, such as with heads of state or critical international negotiations.
Another official told Sunday PUNCH that expectations were high due to the months-long lag, and concerns continued to grow as the country’s foreign missions were left without top ambassadors.
“It has been long coming. Many decisions are on hold because our missions and embassies are still expecting new diplomats. There are major meetings happening around the world without us because we have no representation at such levels.
“The President cannot be everywhere at the same time. The Minister of Foreign Affairs cannot do everything by himself,” the official said, preferring to stay anonymous as he was not authorised to speak to the press.
Meanwhile, ex-diplomats have raised concerns over the eight-month delay in posting ambassadors, saying the country would be disadvantaged due to non-representation.
They warned that Nigeria’s absence from the international stage could have long-term consequences for its reputation.
A former Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico and Singapore, Dr Ogbole Amedu-Ode, said, “In a situation of negotiations taking place at the highest level of the mission hierarchy, it means that those missions that do not have their principal envoys would be placed at a disadvantage of non-representation.
“However, it is not too much of an issue in the practice of diplomacy. This is because, in the absence of a principal envoy of ambassadorial rank, the Chargés d’affaires will hold watch until a substantive head of mission arrives. Government and governance, which extends to diplomacy and diplomatic practice, have continuity as one of their hallmarks.”
Likewise, a retired Consul to Cameroon and delegate to the World Expo and Economic Development Centre in Paris, Rasheed Akinkuolie, was concerned that host governments might question why Nigeria had not replaced its recalled ambassadors, potentially seeing the prolonged absence as a sign of instability.
Akinkuolie reasoned, “It is not the best option not to have resident ambassadors at a post. Chargés d’affaires may not be able to relate with host governments at the highest level, which includes heads of state.
“A chargé d’affaires can generally only relate with foreign ministries and other officials.”