The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu over the recent announcement of Nigeria’s ambassadorial postings, describing the move as a diplomatic mistake that could expose the country to international embarrassment.
In a statement released on Friday, the opposition party said the government acted wrongly by publicly announcing the appointments before receiving the required approval from the countries where the envoys are expected to serve.
The ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the action shows what he described as poor handling of diplomatic procedures by the current administration.
His reaction followed the announcement by the Presidency that 65 ambassadors and high commissioners had been assigned to different countries and international organisations.
The announcement was made by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who confirmed that the postings include both career diplomats and political appointees.
According to the government, the envoys will begin preparations for their assignments while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seeks approval from the host countries.
However, the ADC said the approach taken by the government contradicts normal diplomatic practice.
In its statement, the opposition party argued that the government should have first obtained approval from the receiving countries before publicly announcing the appointments.
The party said the process is clearly stated under international diplomatic rules.
“After nearly three years in office, and three months after the Senate confirmation of the ambassadors, today’s announcement by the State House puts the cart before the horse and demonstrates the Tinubu administration’s inability to grasp the basic protocol of diplomatic relations,” the statement said.
The party cited the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which sets out rules guiding relations between countries.
According to the ADC, Article 4 of the convention states that a country must first obtain the consent of the receiving country before officially appointing or announcing a head of mission.
Diplomatic experts say the agrément process allows the receiving country to review the background of the nominated ambassador before deciding whether to accept or reject the appointment.
The ADC argued that announcing the appointments first, and then requesting approval, could create problems if any of the nominees are rejected.
“By announcing appointments and then requesting consent, it indicates that the government does not know what it is doing,” the statement said.
The party also said the process is normally handled quietly through diplomatic channels in order to avoid embarrassment.
Beyond the issue of diplomatic procedure, the ADC also questioned why the government only announced 65 ambassadorial postings when Nigeria maintains a total of 109 diplomatic missions around the world.
The party asked what would happen to the remaining 44 missions that still do not have ambassadors.
“Nigeria maintains 109 diplomatic missions around the world, yet the government has only announced 65 ambassadors,” the party said.
“What happens to the remaining 44 missions? Are those posts to remain vacant indefinitely while Nigeria’s diplomatic presence continues to shrink?”
The opposition party also questioned whether the government plans to reduce Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad.
According to the ADC, the situation raises concerns about Nigeria’s international representation at a time when global political and economic issues require strong diplomatic engagement.
The party said the absence of ambassadors in several missions could limit Nigeria’s ability to participate fully in international discussions.
The Presidency announced on Friday that President Tinubu had approved the posting of 65 ambassadors-designate and high commissioners.
The list includes 31 non-career ambassadors and 34 career diplomats.
Among those appointed are former government officials, politicians, and experienced diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Senate confirmed all the nominees in December 2025 after they were screened by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.
According to the Presidency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been directed to begin an induction programme for the ambassadors before they depart for their assignments.
The envoys will only assume their duties after receiving agrément from their host countries.
So far, the United Kingdom has granted approval for Aminu Dalhatu to serve as Nigeria’s High Commissioner.
France has also approved the appointment of Ayodele Oke as Nigeria’s ambassador.
The nominations of the remaining envoys have been forwarded to their respective host countries for approval.
Nigeria maintains diplomatic missions in more than 100 countries around the world.
These missions include embassies, high commissions, and consulates.
Embassies represent Nigeria in foreign countries and handle relations between governments.
High commissions serve the same purpose in Commonwealth countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
Diplomatic missions also assist Nigerians living abroad, issue travel documents, and help promote trade and investment.
Ambassadors are responsible for representing Nigeria’s interests, strengthening diplomatic ties, and supporting cooperation between Nigeria and other countries.
Nigeria has faced criticism in recent years over delays in appointing ambassadors to its foreign missions.
The last major ambassadorial postings were made in 2017 during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
After the recall of ambassadors in 2023, many Nigerian missions were left without permanent heads.
In such situations, the missions are usually managed by senior diplomats known as chargés d’affaires.
While chargés d’affaires can perform many diplomatic duties, they do not have the same level of authority as ambassadors.
Foreign policy experts have warned that prolonged absence of ambassadors can weaken Nigeria’s influence in international affairs.
They say ambassadors play a key role in promoting trade opportunities, attracting foreign investment, and building political partnerships.
The ADC said the Tinubu administration should take diplomacy more seriously and ensure that proper procedures are followed.
The party also criticised what it described as delays in completing the appointment process.
“The question to ask is: why did it take the government more than three months after nominating these ambassadors before now requesting consent?” the party said.
The ADC also noted that the government had not yet announced an ambassador to the United States, which is one of Nigeria’s most important diplomatic partners.
According to the party, Nigeria must maintain a strong diplomatic presence in major world capitals.
The opposition party warned that weak diplomatic representation could affect Nigeria’s ability to influence international decisions.
Despite the criticism, the government has begun preparations for the deployment of the ambassadors.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to organise training sessions for the envoys.
During the induction programme, the ambassadors will receive briefings on Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities and international relations.
Once host countries grant their approval, the envoys will depart for their respective duty posts.
