The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ademola Oshodi, has dismissed concerns that Nigeria’s diplomatic relations have suffered due to the delay in appointing new ambassadors.
Speaking on Inside Sources, a Channels Television programme anchored by Laolu Akande, former spokesperson to ex–Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Oshodi maintained that there is no vacuum in Nigeria’s foreign policy operations, despite the absence of substantive envoys.
“The ambassadorial situation is a very strategic position taken by the President,” Oshodi explained.
“We’re undergoing a tough reform process, and resources are being carefully prioritised. The President himself has been our chief envoy, leading efforts to attract investment and strengthen partnerships worldwide.”
Oshodi clarified that the decision to recall ambassadors and delay fresh appointments was a deliberate strategic and financial move, allowing the government to channel limited resources toward pressing national priorities such as economic reforms, infrastructure, food security, and national security.
He further noted that chargés d’affaires have been deployed across Nigerian missions abroad to ensure the smooth continuation of diplomatic duties.
“There’s no diplomatic vacuum. Chargés d’affaires are managing our missions effectively, while the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission continues to address the needs of Nigerians abroad,” he said.
The aide’s remarks come two years after President Tinubu ordered a mass recall of all envoys from Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions, including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates — part of what the government described as a “diplomatic reset.”
Tinubu, while addressing members of The Buhari Organisation at the Presidential Villa in September 2023, admitted that the process of appointing new ambassadors had been slow due to complex political considerations.
“I couldn’t appoint everybody at once,” the President had said. “There are still some ambassadorial slots left, but it’s not easy stitching those names together.”
Despite fiscal and logistical constraints, Oshodi asserted that Nigeria’s foreign policy remains vibrant and active under Tinubu. He highlighted the President’s participation in ECOWAS, African Union, and BRICS meetings, as well as summits with international investors and development partners.
“President Tinubu has been visible in multilateral engagements, promoting investment, security cooperation, and climate partnerships,” Oshodi noted. “Nigeria continues to play a leadership role, especially within ECOWAS.”
Addressing criticism over Tinubu’s absence from the last two United Nations General Assembly sessions, Oshodi said the decision was intentional, reflecting a shift in diplomatic focus.
“The President didn’t snub the UN. He simply prioritised regional and continental issues — such as security in the Sahel, arms trafficking, and economic integration — that have a more immediate impact on Nigerians,” he said.
With the deployment of interim mission heads and the President’s personal engagement in global diplomacy, Oshodi reiterated that Nigeria’s international presence remains robust.
“There’s absolutely no diplomatic vacuum,” he concluded. “The President has been leading from the front as Nigeria’s number one ambassador.”
