Former Presidential Political Adviser and ex–Perm. Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has cautioned Nigerians against expecting significant diplomatic gains from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s newly submitted list of ambassadorial nominees, describing the move as “too little, too late.”
Speaking on LibertyTV’s flagship public affairs programme: ‘PoliticsNOW‘, Baba-Ahmed said the President’s delay in appointing Nigeria’s representatives abroad has already weakened the country’s diplomatic visibility and may limit the effectiveness of the nominees once deployed.
He explained that ambassadorships and high-level diplomatic engagements operate within strict timelines and require continuous interaction with host nations to advance national interests. According to him, Nigeria has lost crucial time during which strategic relationships could have been strengthened.
“The international system does not wait for anyone. You cannot be absent for long and expect to jump back in at full speed. The delay has already created gaps, and these nominees – good as they may be – are going in at a disadvantage”, Baba-Ahmed stressed.
The respected public affairs commentator added that Nigeria should be prepared for the possibility that some host countries may decline to accept certain nominees. While host-country rejections are not common, he said they are not unusual when political circumstances or diplomatic sensitivities arise.
Baba-Ahmed argued that such risks underscore why timeliness and strategic clarity are critical in foreign postings. He warned that the administration must now work harder to rebuild confidence with partners who may have interpreted the prolonged delay as a sign of diplomatic disinterest or disorganisation.
He further urged the Presidency to ensure that the nominees are not only competent but also “politically uncontroversial, professionally grounded, and aligned with Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities”.
