Why Nigeria is A Country Without Ambassadors -FG Explains Rationale for Delay in Appointments of Ambassadors

Olufemi Orunsola

The Federal Government has revealed the reasons behind the delay in appointing ambassadors, one year after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office.



Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar who spoke during the Ministerial Sectoral Briefing organized by the Ministry of Information and National Orientation in Abuja, cited financial difficulties as the primary reason for the failure of the federal government to appoint Ambassadors.

According to him, President Tinubu, since resuming office has prioritized economic reforms, particularly the removal of consumption subsidies in favor of production subsidies. 

He noted that the drastic policy shift aimed to enhance economic productivity but has faced several challenges, including currency depreciation, inflation, and overall financial instability. 

The Foreign Affairs Minister, who had previously served as the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, pointed out that current economic hurdles have played significant role in the delay in appointment of Ambassadors.

Open Television Naija recalls that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in a letter dated August 31, 2023 recalled Nigeria's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Ishola after which also announced the recall of all career and non-career ambassadors of the country.

Tugar observed that while the government’s microeconomic reforms has started to yield positive results, external factors like the rise of cryptocurrencies and platforms like Binance have undermined these gains.

In his words: "Due to these financial constraints, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has struggled to secure adequate funding."

He therefore emphasized that appointing ambassadors without the necessary financial resources to support their operations would be futile. 

“We met a situation where Foreign Affairs was not being funded like the way it should be. Some loopholes are exploited by the likes of Binance. It is a money problem. 

There is no point sending out ambassadors if you do not have the funds for them to even travel to their designated country and to run the missions effectively,” he said.

He however assured that the government is actively addressing the issue. “Mr. President is working on it and it will be done in due course,” he said 

In addition to discussing ambassadorial appointments, Tuggar addressed the ongoing issue of visa denials faced by Nigerians.

He affirmed that Nigeria would continue to engage with other countries to resolve these issues for the collective benefit of its citizens.

Reflecting on the progress made under President Tinubu’s administration, Tuggar highlighted several achievements: 25 Memorandums of Understanding signed in various fields, engagement with 74 stakeholders within Nigeria, 236 stakeholders abroad, and five diaspora engagement initiatives. 

Over 10,278 diasporans were engaged, 56 bilateral meetings held, and three joint commission/senior official engagements conducted, including the EU–Senior Officials Meeting.

Discussing the Year of Return policy, Tuggar stated that the ministry is collaborating with other ministries, departments, and agencies, particularly the Ministry of Interior, to facilitate access to Nigeria for visitors.

He acknowledged the challenges posed by Nigeria’s population and poverty levels but emphasized the significant contributions of Nigerians worldwide.

Tuggar assured that the government is committed to ensuring the safety of those returning and highlighted President Tinubu’s proactive approach to national security.

Tuggar also emphasized the importance of harnessing Nigeria’s diaspora potential for national development. 

He highlighted Nigeria's plans to enhance consular services abroad, showcasing Nigeria positively and facilitating knowledge transfer, capital investment, and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). 

The diaspora is seen as a crucial asset, with programs planned to support remittances, ease of doing business, skill transfer, and other services for the benefit of Nigerians.

He also emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to promoting democracy and ensuring its sustainability in West Africa and beyond. 

“Democracy is crucial for peace and stability in Africa and globally. Nigeria seeks to be surrounded by democracies in West Africa and beyond.

Open Television Naija further recalls that former President Muhammafu Buhari had in July 2020 appointed 41 non-career ambassadors and 42 career ambassadors to man the country's foreign diplomatic missions but some seven months after the expiration of the sixty days of returning to Nigeria after their recall, being 31st October, 2023, the the federal government hpas failed to appoint new ambassadors to man the country's foreign diplomatic missions.

By this development, foreign missions of the country are currently eft in the hands of Chargé d'affaires until substantive ambassadors are appointed by the President, based on international diplomacy protocols.

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