The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a strong warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what it describes as his administration’s “embarrassing failure” to appoint ambassadors nearly two years after recalling Nigeria’s foreign envoys.
In a press statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the prolonged absence of duly accredited ambassadors is already damaging Nigeria’s global image, weakening consular services, and putting the country at risk of diplomatic isolation.
“This is the longest period in Nigeria’s history without ambassadors,” the statement read. “If this embarrassing absence is allowed to continue, other countries may begin to downgrade Nigeria’s diplomatic standing — and it is ordinary Nigerians who will suffer the consequences.”
The ADC warned that the administration’s continued silence signals not only poor governance but a lack of seriousness in foreign relations. Since President Tinubu recalled Nigeria’s 109 ambassadors in 2023, none have been replaced, leaving foreign missions without high-level representation at a time the world is forging new alliances and economic partnerships.
“Junior diplomats or chargé d’affaires cannot speak for Nigeria with the authority or access that ambassadors enjoy. This has affected the quality of our diplomatic engagements across the world,” the statement added.
Citing the rising consular tensions with the United States and the United Arab Emirates, the ADC noted that visa issues and diplomatic missteps are becoming more frequent — consequences of the vacuum left by Tinubu’s inaction. The party described Nigeria’s current diplomatic posture as “weak and unserious,” with consular offices struggling and morale among foreign service professionals at an all-time low.
The party also condemned the manner in which the Tinubu administration handled the recent U.S. request regarding deported Venezuelans, saying:
“While the ADC supports Nigeria’s decision not to accept the deportees, the public outburst by the Foreign Affairs Minister on prime-time television was undiplomatic and avoidable. That communication should have been handled discreetly by an ambassador in Washington.”
The ADC accused President Tinubu of delaying ambassadorial appointments in order to reward cronies, while Nigerian students, workers, and professionals abroad are left to face indignities without adequate diplomatic protection.
“At a time when other African countries are asserting their presence in Washington, Beijing, and Moscow, Nigeria is stuck in neutral — unable to even introduce itself. Our diplomatic missions have become sorry symbols of a country that no longer takes itself seriously,” the statement lamented.
The ADC concluded with a firm call to action:
“President Tinubu must appoint ambassadors now to save Nigeria from further foreign policy embarrassment.”