Reason Tinubu is delaying appointment of Ambassadors – Presidency

Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser on Public Communication and Orientation to President Bola Tinubu, has addressed concerns regarding the delay in appointing ambassadors.

According to reports, concerns have grown over the absence of envoys in Nigeria’s 109 missions, 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates worldwide due to the delay in appointments.

Speaking in an interview with Premium Times, Dare explained that President Tinubu is carefully considering the individuals for these roles because of their significance.

He added that Tinubu is prioritizing foreign policy and may finalize the appointments before the end of the year.

He said, “You must appreciate the fact that when you have a mission or an embassy, it is a structure. And what you have at the top is the ambassador, who can be just a political appointee or a career diplomat. But they don’t operate in isolation. They have consul generals.

“They have quite a number of diplomats and foreign affairs staffers who they call ambassadors who do the day-to-day work. So when the ambassadors are removed, the essential work or the core work of diplomacy of a consulate still goes on. It’s just removing one person. So, at no point did that stop for all our embassies.

“I do agree that with an ambassador, you get a more pointed direction and the rest. But let me fast-forward. We’re at a point when that is about to happen. We’re going to see that happen shortly. The president has been deliberate because he understands that the ambassadors will play a key role in his plan to bring FDI into our country.

“They will play a key role in ensuring that Nigeria is plugged into the global economy at the right point. And I’m telling you, he’s been deliberate, making sure that those who will go as ambassadors have the credentials, whether career diplomats or even politicians, and that is why it has taken so much time. That’s what I believe, but we will have ambassadors very soon. I’m sure that is going to happen before the end of the year.”