Tinubu to unveil ambassadors soon, says senior aide

Ademola Oshodi, a Senior Special Adviser on Foreign Affairs and Protocol to President Bola Tinubu, has revealed that the President will announce his ambassadors in the coming weeks.

Speaking during Channels Television’s 2024 Year-In-Review programme on Sunday, Oshodi defended the delay in the appointments, citing that the previous administration took 20 months to finalize its ambassadorial list.

The remarks came in response to criticism from Lawrence Obisakin, a former Ambassador to Benin Republic, and Ayoola Olukanni, Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to Australia. Both diplomats criticized Tinubu’s administration for failing to appoint ambassadors 16 months after recalling all career and political envoys.

President Tinubu had recalled ambassadors stationed across over 100 Nigerian embassies and high commissions on September 2, 2023, just three months after his inauguration. However, the President is yet to send a new list of nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

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.”