Delay In Ambassadorial Appointments Could Cost Nigeria UN Seat — Akande

Former presidential aide, Laolu Akande, has emphasised the urgent need for President Bola Tinubu to appoint ambassadors to key nations in order to bolster Nigeria’s chances of securing a permanent seat on the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

Akande stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Monday, stressing that strategic ambassadorial appointments are vital for Nigeria’s diplomatic agenda abroad.

At the recent 79th United Nations General Assembly, Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Tinubu, called for permanent seats for Africa on the UN Security Council.

However, Akande cautioned that this demand would not yield results unless ambassadors are appointed to major global capitals.

“The President may begin to look at the issues of naming ambassadors because if we really want to get this seat, we need an ambassador in New York, we need an ambassador in Washington DC, we need in London,” Akande said. “There are key places where we should have ambassadors, even in Africa. Even if you don’t want to do the whole over 100, do like 10 of key places so that we can get in early.”

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He expressed concern over the prospect of Nigeria missing out on the opportunity to secure a coveted permanent membership on the UN Security Council.

“I think it will be very difficult if there are two seats on the Permanent Membership and on the Security Council and Nigeria doesn’t get it. We have a lot of work to do because there is very strong resistance,” he added.

Recall that on September 2, 2023, about three months after his inauguration, President Tinubu recalled all Nigerian ambassadors from over 100 embassies and high commissions worldwide.

The move, described by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, was in line with the President’s prerogative to reassign or recall ambassadors at will.

Despite this directive, the President has yet to submit a new list of ambassadors for Senate approval thereby leaving key diplomatic posts vacant.

This delay came as other nations continue to maintain active ambassadors in Nigeria, with foreign representatives carrying out their diplomatic duties in Abuja while Nigeria’s ambassadorial roles remain unfilled.