Tinubu set to appoint ambassadors within weeks – Presidency
President Bola Tinubu is expected to name new ambassadors in the upcoming weeks, according to Ademola Oshodi, a Senior Special Adviser on Foreign Affairs and Protocol.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s 2024 Year-In-Review program, Oshodi emphasised that announcements regarding ambassadorial appointments would be made shortly, followed by the necessary actions by the Senate for their accreditation and deployment to various missions worldwide.
Oshodi stated, “I believe in the next few weeks, there will be a pronouncement for the ambassadors, and steps will be taken by the Senate and accreditation to put them in place in their various missions around the world.”
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The delay in ambassadorial appointments has drawn criticism from former diplomats, including Lawrence Obisakin, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the Benin Republic, and Ayoola Olukanni, the former High Commissioner to Australia.
They questioned the absence of new appointments 16 months after President Tinubu recalled all career and political ambassadors in a sweeping decision.
On September 2, 2023, shortly after his inauguration as President, Tinubu recalled over 100 ambassadors representing Nigeria in embassies and high commissions around the globe.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, reiterated that ambassadors serve at the President’s discretion, making it his prerogative to send or recall them as needed.
Despite the ongoing absence of Nigerian ambassadors, the country continues to host representatives from other nations with missions in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
Oshodi said his principal has been busy putting things in place for the envoys to be appointed and sent to foreign soils.
The presidential aide said, “The ambassadors are coming but the most important thing we should realise is that things are being put in place for the ambassadors and the high commissioners. We have chargé d’affaires to the nations, and consul generals that have been sent, more of a prelude to the ambassadors’ arrival.
“The foreign missions are not in dire straits. The president inherited missions that were not in great shape. So, things have to be put in shape and prepared for the ambassadors, and their families, dignitaries, diplomats, etc.
“It is something that the President and his administration are focused on. As much as the ambassadors are key, I want to clearly state that even the last administration, without giving excuses, took 20 months for them to put ambassadors in place.”
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