Former Governor of Abia State and Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently appoint ambassadors, warning that Nigeria risks losing out on the benefits of the president’s international engagements if the vacant positions remain unfilled.

 

Kalu made the call in a video message shared via his official Facebook page, where he commended President Tinubu for his numerous diplomatic and economic trips abroad but stressed that without ambassadors, Nigeria’s long-term gains from such visits would be undermined.

 

Since Tinubu assumed office two years ago, Nigeria has been operating without substantive ambassadors. All envoys were recalled early in his administration, and no replacements have been announced since then. This development has raised concerns among diplomats, policy experts, and political stakeholders, who argue that Nigeria’s foreign missions are currently underperforming without substantive heads.

 

Months ago, a document purportedly containing names of nominees for ambassadorial positions circulated widely on social media, sparking speculation that the federal government was set to make the long-awaited appointments. However, the Presidency swiftly dismissed the list as fake, leaving the country’s diplomatic representation in limbo.

 

Kalu, a two-term senator and former Chief Whip of the Senate, argued that the absence of ambassadors has weakened Nigeria’s diplomatic presence at a time when the country should be consolidating its international partnerships. He insisted that envoys serve as critical links between Nigeria and host nations, ensuring that trade agreements, security collaborations, and cultural exchanges initiated at the presidential level are sustained.

 

“The traveling of President Tinubu is very good for our country and its economic development,” Kalu said. “But he cannot just be president of Abuja. Tinubu should deploy more diplomacy. Our dear President has done well with his international engagements, but it’s time he appoints ambassadors so that Nigeria can reap the full benefits of his diplomatic and economic work.”

 

Political observers note that Tinubu has embarked on more than a dozen official trips to Europe, the United States, Asia, and Africa in the past two years, seeking investments and forging stronger bilateral ties. However, without ambassadors in foreign capitals, many of these efforts risk being reduced to photo opportunities rather than yielding tangible economic and political results.

 

Experts also stress that ambassadors play a key role in protecting the welfare of Nigerians in the diaspora, promoting the country’s image abroad, and advancing its interests in multilateral institutions.

 

Kalu’s intervention adds to mounting pressure on the Tinubu administration to act decisively. Analysts argue that the prolonged delay not only hampers Nigeria’s diplomatic efficiency but also signals a lack of urgency in filling critical governance gaps.

 

As Nigeria continues to grapple with economic challenges, insecurity, and the need for foreign investments, many believe that appointing ambassadors is not only overdue but essential to strengthening the country’s international standing.