Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser on Public Communication and Orientation to President Bola Tinubu, has addressed growing concerns regarding the delay in appointing ambassadors to represent Nigeria in various missions worldwide.
Over recent weeks, reports have highlighted widespread worries about the absence of envoys across Nigeria’s 109 missions, including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates. Many stakeholders have expressed unease over how this might impact the nation's diplomatic relations and foreign policy agenda. The delay has been interpreted by some as a setback to Nigeria's global engagement efforts.
In an exclusive interview with Premium Times, Dare shed light on the reasons behind the delay, explaining that President Tinubu is being deliberate in selecting individuals for these highly significant roles. The president, he said, understands the crucial impact ambassadors will have on Nigeria's foreign policy and economic goals, particularly in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and integrating Nigeria into the global economy.
Dare elaborated on the ongoing operations at Nigerian missions despite the absence of appointed ambassadors. He explained that the core functions of these missions are managed by career diplomats and foreign affairs staff, including consul generals. According to him, the absence of ambassadors has not halted day-to-day diplomatic activities, but their presence is crucial for providing strategic direction and leadership.
“You must appreciate the fact that when you have a mission or an embassy, it is a structure. And what you have at the top is the ambassador, who can be just a political appointee or a career diplomat. But they don’t operate in isolation. They have consul generals. They have quite a number of diplomats and foreign affairs staffers who they call ambassadors who do the day-to-day work. So when the ambassadors are removed, the essential work or the core work of diplomacy of a consulate still goes on. It’s just removing one person. So, at no point did that stop for all our embassies,” Dare said.
However, he acknowledged the unique role ambassadors play in enhancing the effectiveness of Nigeria’s missions abroad, stating, “I do agree that with an ambassador, you get a more pointed direction and the rest.”
Dare further reassured Nigerians that the president is close to finalizing the appointments. He emphasized that Tinubu has been meticulous in selecting individuals with the right credentials and capabilities, whether they are career diplomats or political appointees. This thorough approach, he noted, is part of Tinubu’s strategy to ensure that the ambassadors contribute meaningfully to advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives.
“The president has been deliberate because he understands that the ambassadors will play a key role in his plan to bring FDI into our country. They will play a key role in ensuring that Nigeria is plugged into the global economy at the right point. And I’m telling you, he’s been deliberate, making sure that those who will go as ambassadors have the credentials, whether career diplomats or even politicians, and that is why it has taken so much time. That’s what I believe, but we will have ambassadors very soon,” Dare added.
He concluded with an optimistic timeline, expressing confidence that the appointments will be made before the end of the year, signaling a new phase in Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement under President Tinubu’s administration.
