President Bola Tinubu is set to announce Nigeria’s ambassadors soon, according to Ademola Oshodi, the Senior Special Adviser on Foreign Affairs and Protocol.
Oshodi assured the public during Channels Television’s “2024 Year-In-Review” programme that the announcement would be made in a few weeks.
Addressing criticism over the delay, Oshodi compared the current situation to the previous administration, which took 20 months to finalize ambassadorial appointments.
He emphasized that the delay is part of a deliberate process to ensure everything is in place for the new envoys.
Critics, including former Ambassador to the Benin Republic Lawrence Obisakin and ex-High Commissioner to Australia Ayoola Olukanni, expressed concerns over Tinubu’s failure to appoint ambassadors 16 months after recalling all previous envoys.
On September 2, three months into his tenure, President Tinubu had ordered the recall of over 100 career and political ambassadors, leaving many foreign missions without appointed representatives.
Oshodi defended the President’s actions, explaining, “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.”
