President Bola Tinubu’s aide, Ademola Oshodi, has said that the President will announce his ambassadors within the next few weeks.
While faulting critics, he said the past administration took 20 months for them to put ambassadors in place
Oshodi, a Senior Special Adviser on Foreign Affairs and Protocol to the President, made the disclosure on Channels Television’s 2024 Year-In-Review programme on Sunday.
A former Ambassador to the Benin Republic, Lawrence Obisakin and former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Australia, Ayoola Olukanni, had during the programme faulted the President’s delay in appointing ambassadors 16 months after he recalled all career and political ambassadors representing Nigeria overseas.
Recall that President Tinubu recalled Nigerian ambassadors manning over 100 Nigerian embassies and high commissions from their host countries on September 2, just barely three months after his inauguration.
However, the President has yet to send a list of fresh ambassadors to the Senate for approval.
Oshodi said the President has been busy putting things in place for the envoys to be appointed and sent to foreign soils.
The presidential aide said, “The ambassadors are coming but the most important thing we should realise is that things are being put in place for the ambassadors and the high commissioners.
“We have chargé d’affaires to the nations, and consul generals that have been sent, more of a prelude to the ambassadors’ arrival.
“The foreign missions are not in dire straits. The president inherited missions that were not in great shape.
“So, things have to be put in shape and prepared for the ambassadors, and their families, dignitaries, diplomats, etc.
“It is something that the President and his administration are focused on. As much as the ambassadors are key, I want to clearly state that even the last administration, without giving excuses, took 20 months for them to put ambassadors in place.”
