A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Alhaji Mukhtar Garba, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for failing to appoint ambassadors more than two years into his administration.
He blamed the development for Nigeria’s diplomatic challenges and recent visa restrictions imposed by countries such as the United States and the United Arab Emirates on Nigerians.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday in Jalingo, Garba said Nigeria’s absence of substantive ambassadors has left the country vulnerable in diplomatic engagements, making it easier for foreign governments to implement restrictive policies without negotiation.
“Diplomatic negotiations usually happen before such policies are announced. But when a country has no substantive ambassador, other nations can act unilaterally and make pronouncements without prior discussions,” he said.
He argued that having ambassadors in place could have helped Nigeria engage proactively with the US and UAE, potentially averting the harsh visa measures currently affecting Nigerian travellers.
“A lot of people are condemning the UAE and US for imposing strict visa conditions. For me, I don’t blame these countries. In fact, I can tell you for free that we will see more of these in the days ahead,” Garba warned.
He accused the Tinubu administration of lacking foreign policy direction, noting that many Nigerian embassies and foreign missions have operated without ambassadors for nearly two years.
“What happens is that no serious country takes us seriously anymore. They can make any pronouncements since there’s no one to engage them through globally established diplomatic channels,” he said.
Garba expressed frustration that while the President has continued making appointments to boards and agencies, he has neglected the crucial task of staffing Nigeria’s diplomatic missions.
“There’s a major shift in the global order, and now more than ever, we need to strengthen our foreign embassies and consulates to keep abreast and direct our alliances to make the most of this transition period. But nothing is happening, and no one is saying anything. It’s a shame, and I can tell you, more challenges will come,” he added.
