Foreign Ministry Slams ADC Over Criticism of Delayed Ambassadorial Appointments
The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed criticisms by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) concerning delays in ambassadorial appointments, describing the remarks as “alarmist,” “politically motivated,” and “misinformed.” In a statement released on Monday by Alkasim Abdulkadir, Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry stated that Nigerian diplomatic missions remain fully operational and are being overseen by seasoned foreign service officers, including experienced Chargés d’Affaires. It emphasized that there is no vacuum in the representation of Nigeria’s interests abroad despite the absence of substantive ambassadors. The Ministry said ambassadorial appointments are not for political showmanship and cannot be rushed to satisfy partisan concerns. It stressed that appointments are a sovereign responsibility requiring strategic consideration, professional vetting, and alignment with Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives. The ADC had earlier raised concerns that the continued absence of ambassadors—following the recall of all envoys by President Bola Tinubu in September 2023—was weakening Nigeria’s diplomatic posture and creating avoidable challenges in global engagement. The party pointed to unresolved bilateral issues with countries such as the United States and the United Arab Emirates and warned that without fully accredited ambassadors, Nigeria could face diplomatic downgrades in key countries. Bolaji Abdullahi, National Spokesperson of the ADC, criticized the government’s handling of foreign relations, alleging that the situation had led to consular delays and diplomatic inefficiency. He also cited a recent public comment by Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar on a controversial U.S. proposal to transfer Venezuelan prisoners to Nigeria, calling it a diplomatic misstep that an ambassador should have addressed through official channels. The Ministry defended Tuggar’s comments, saying they were part of modern diplomatic engagement and that the Minister acted responsibly by publicly affirming Nigeria’s sovereignty on the matter. It added that the Minister has continued to maintain high-level diplomatic relations, having recently engaged with counterparts from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, China, Egypt, and Brazil. It also noted that Nigeria has remained active in major multilateral platforms including ECOWAS, the African Union, and the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The Ministry reaffirmed that the absence of ambassadors has not diminished Nigeria’s international visibility or diplomatic effectiveness. The statement concluded by assuring Nigerians that ambassadorial appointments will be made in due time based on merit and strategic national interest, not political pressure
