13 months after the presidency recalled 83 ambassadors, Nigeria continues to face a significant diplomatic void, with no formal representatives in 109 missions across the world.
This situation has sparked concerns regarding the nation’s international presence and its diplomatic and economic engagements.
In September 2023, the Federal Government initiated a comprehensive recall of both career and non-career envoys as part of an administrative overhaul aimed at reevaluating Nigeria’s foreign policy.
The ambassadors were instructed to return to Nigeria by October 31, 2023. However, despite the decisive nature of this recall, the subsequent steps to appoint new ambassadors have stalled, leaving a glaring gap in Nigeria’s diplomatic framework.
While the president did approve the appointment of 12 consuls-general and five chargés d’affaires to represent Nigeria in 14 countries this April, the broader issue of unstaffed missions remains unresolved.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs cites funding shortfalls as the primary obstacle.
Ambassador Eche Abu-Ode, spokesperson for the ministry, highlighted the financial challenges in a statement this June, noting, “The deployment of ambassadors is contingent upon the allocations provided in a supplementary budget. For now, there is no clear way forward without the necessary funds.”
However, a top official within the ministry, who spoke anonymously on Saturday with Punch, expressed frustration over the continued delay.
“There is silence on the matter. Nobody knows what is going on,” the source said.
A retired Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, echoed these concerns, emphasising that high-level diplomatic engagement operates in a hierarchical order.
“The main consequence of our missions not being headed and run by principal envoys is that where diplomatic interfaces are at the highest levels, Nigeria may be found wanting precisely because diplomatic engagements are undertaken in a strictly hierarchical order,” he warned.
While Charge d’Affaires can temporarily assume duties, Amedu-Ode stressed that they do not have the same authority or influence as full-fledged ambassadors.