President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will announce his ambassadors within the next few weeks.
Ademola Oshodi, a senior special adviser on foreign affairs and protocol to Tinubu, revealed this on Channels Television’s 2024 year-in-review programme on Sunday, December 29.
While faulting critics, he said the past administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari, took 20 months to put ambassadors in place.
He explained the role the Nigerian Senate led by Godswill Akpabio will play to achieve this.
“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,” he said.
Tinubu recalls Nigeria’s Ambassadors
Also speaking during the programme, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the Benin Republic, Lawrence Obisakin; and former Nigeria’s High Commissioner in Australia, Ayoola Olukanni, had faulted Tinubu’s non-appointment of ambassadors 16 months after he recalled all career and political ambassadors representing Nigeria overseas.
Legit.ng reported that on Saturday, September 2, 2023 President Tinubu recalled all Nigerian ambassadors, representing the country across the world just barely three months after his inauguration.
However, the president has yet to send a list of fresh ambassadors to the Senate for approval.
Tinubu to announce ambassadors soon, says adviser
Reacting, Oshodi said his principal is working to ensure envoys are 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.
“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.”
Tinubu makes 17 appointments in Nigeria Embassies
The announcement was disclosed by the presidency, quoting the minister of foreign affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and listed the names and portfolios of the 17 appointees.
Ambassador Tuggar was said to have been quoted to have urged the appointees to shun politics and be committed to their diplomatic callings.