Greater than 20 months after President Bola Tinubu recalled Nigeria’s ambassadors to pave the best way for a renewed and environment friendly overseas service, the nation stays with out substantive illustration in most of its 109 diplomatic missions.

The vacuum has drawn criticism from overseas affairs consultants, analysts, and former diplomats, who warn that Nigeria’s extended absence from world diplomatic conversations is harming its worldwide standing, enterprise pursuits, and the welfare of its residents overseas.

From missed diplomatic courtesies throughout high-level visits to delayed worldwide agreements and sidelining at main world occasions, Nigeria’s overseas missions have been working in limbo, headed solely by mission officers and cost d’affaires, who lack the political clout to drive strategic engagements.

One notable instance, cited by an analyst, was the latest inauguration of Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the place Nigeria’s delegation confronted public embarrassment. Protocol officers reportedly didn’t recognise Nigeria’s presence, an oversight attributed to the absence of a substantive ambassador and poor diplomatic coordination.

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“If not for the private intervention of Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, minister of state for overseas affairs, who has a longstanding relationship with the Namibian management, the state of affairs may have been worse,” the analyst mentioned.

This incident displays broader issues amongst overseas coverage consultants who say Nigeria is being relegated to the background at worldwide fora as a result of its diplomatic inertia.

They argue that within the strict hierarchical world of diplomacy, the presence or absence of a substantive ambassador can decide the extent of entry, respect, and affect a nation instructions.

“There are specific ranges of debate and diplomatic interface that an performing official merely can’t entry.

“It might appear minor at first, however seniority in rank carries vital weight. Nigeria is lacking out”, Ogbole Ode, Nigeria’s former envoy to Singapore, advised BusinessDay.

Ode warned that the morale amongst profession diplomats, lots of whom have waited years for ambassadorial postings, is at an all-time low.

“For them, time is of the essence to attain their profession aims. This delay is impinging not simply on their morale but in addition on productiveness”, he added.

BusinessDay checks reveal that a number of worldwide occasions and agreements have both been cancelled or considerably scaled down as a result of Nigeria’s lack of ambassadorial management.

In a single occasion, a possible settlement in an Asian nation was dropped from the agenda on the final minute.

A supply inside the Presidency confirmed the event, stating that Nigeria’s cost d’affaires didn’t have the authority or diplomatic leverage to push the deal by way of.

“Had an envoy been current, that deal would have gone by way of,” the supply added.

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Equally, joint commissions and cooperation frameworks with strategic companions have been positioned ‘in abeyance’ pending the appointment of ambassadors to spearhead these negotiations.

John Enemari, a public affairs analyst, mentioned Nigeria’s efforts to draw overseas traders are being hampered by the absence of senior diplomats.

“International diplomats in Nigeria are aggressively securing offers and making certain their residents get pleasure from a easy enterprise local weather. We’d like our personal envoys on the market doing the identical,” he mentioned.

Francis Onuoha, a political scientist on the Nationwide Defence School in Abuja, argued that whereas ambassadors are essential, the therapy Nigeria receives overseas is usually a mirrored image of its home governance.

“Ninety % of how a rustic is handled overseas is about optics notion. In case your authorities doesn’t deal with its residents nicely at dwelling, you possibly can’t count on respect overseas. Safety, justice, and equal entry to financial alternatives are what venture nationwide picture”, Onuoha mentioned.

His views are echoed by Michael Ugwueze, affiliate professor on the College of Nigeria, Nsukka, who just lately returned from a go to to Taiwan. Ugwueze recounted how tough it was to defend Nigeria’s world picture within the face of weak illustration and inner disarray.

“Our leaders focus an excessive amount of on political pursuits, forgetting the results for the nation. There’s no scarcity of competent Nigerians. The issue is political: who will get what, when, and the way,” he mentioned.

Yusuf Tuggar, minister of overseas affairs, just lately reassured the general public that the record of ambassadorial nominees would quickly be forwarded to the Senate for screening.

“We now have mission officers operating the embassies for now, immigration, defence, and army attachés. It doesn’t imply the missions are non-functional,” he mentioned.

Nonetheless, sources inside the Presidency recommend that the record has been prepared for a while however is being held again for ‘thorough vetting.’

“The President is taking his time to make sure the proper persons are nominated. It’s not nearly filling positions, it’s about getting it proper,” the supply mentioned, including that the President is aware of what he’s doing.

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Extended vetting comes at a price

Nonetheless, critics argue that this extended vetting is coming at a excessive price. The delay not solely hampers Nigeria’s worldwide engagements but in addition impacts the credibility of the Tinubu administration’s overseas coverage agenda.

The absence of ambassadors, analysts warn, is greater than only a bureaucratic delay; it’s a diplomatic drift that might undermine Nigeria’s long-term strategic pursuits.

“Ambassadors are the eyes, ears, and voice of a nation overseas. With out them, Nigeria is flying blind,” mentioned Audu Gambo, pioneer vice-chancellor of Karl Kumm College.

“Past facilitating political and financial ties, ambassadors play essential roles in defending nationwide pursuits, helping residents, and shaping worldwide narratives.

“Their absence sends a worrying sign to the worldwide neighborhood that Nigeria is probably not severe about its worldwide engagements,” he famous.

Gambo painted a dire image of the strategic penalties of Nigeria’s extended diplomatic silence. “Nigeria’s absence from key worldwide boards such because the UN, African Union, and ECOWAS diminishes our lobbying energy and world affect,” he warned.

He emphasised that ambassadors are important for facilitating commerce, negotiating funding offers, and attracting growth assist.

“Their absence may result in missed financial alternatives and a decline in overseas investments,” he mentioned.

He additionally highlighted the safety implications, noting that ambassadors play a key position in fostering intelligence sharing and safety cooperation.

“Their absence weakens our world safety posture and compromises the security of Nigerians overseas,” he famous.

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Tuggar intervenes

At a latest ministerial briefing in Abuja, Minister Tuggar insisted that the nation has efficiently asserted its nationwide pursuits and amplified its voice on each bilateral and multilateral platforms.

“From securing the discharge of detained residents to championing humanitarian causes, Nigeria’s overseas coverage has advanced right into a device of strategic engagement and nationwide development,” Tuggar acknowledged.

He revealed that underneath the present administration, Nigeria has facilitated the discharge of a number of residents detained overseas, together with these held in Addis Ababa, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

In a notable cultural achievement, Tuggar highlighted Nigeria’s management in facilitating the return of the stolen Benin Bronzes, describing it as “a serious milestone that restored our cultural heritage and bolstered nationwide pleasure.”

The minister additionally underscored the nation’s push in gentle energy diplomacy.