LET’s not get it twisted, this week’s noisy Mission To Tokyo has again exposed consequences of absence of ambassadors in our foreign missions for two years.
Nigeria has again been under fire at the just concluded Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-9) in Japan after observers noticed that the country’s booth was left unmanned despite the presence of a large government delegation.
The TICAD9 2025 Nigeria’s President attended has been so mismanaged and poorly explained that a Nigerian entrepreneur based in Japan, Idris Ayodeji Bello’s alarm on social media, expressing embarrassment that Nigeria was the only country without representation at its exhibition stand has become a great news point.
Bello who claimed he was compelled to salvage the country’s image, said he informally assumed the role of an “Honorary Consul,” taking charge of the Nigerian stand to engage curious visitors.
He noted that for hours, he fielded diverse questions from international delegates and investors, ranging from agriculture and real estate to oil and gas, manufacturing, and even fashion. ‘Ambassador’ Bello also disclosed that his impromptu representation caught the attention of Nikkei Asia, one of Japan’s leading financial publications, which interviewed him on why Nigeria remained a strategic partner for Japan, particularly in the context of shifting global trade dynamics sparked by the Trump administration’s trade policies.
His words: “I hate to show negative things about Nigeria but it is sad that Nigeria is the only unmanned booth at TICAD9 in Japan… So ashamed, I have now designated myself as an ‘Honorary Consul’ and taken over the booth to engage visitors,” Bello wrote, noting that several Japanese attendees had approached him with questions about Nigeria. The emergency brand ambassador added: “It’s been a few hours now fielding questions and inquiries on all topics under the sun from crops to real estate…to sports…Thank God for residual knowledge from the life of an Afropreneur…”
Reacting to the development, angry critics and speakers for the opposition platforms have accused the government of unspeakable negligence. They criticised what they described as the administration’s ‘anyhow-ness’ pointing out that despite traveling with a large entourage, no official was available to man the booth.
One critic noted: “This is incompetence that follows the President abroad. After this jamboree, who will follow up to ensure that Nigeria actually benefits from TICAD9? When we asked them to appoint ambassadors, they went ahead and appointed KWAM 1…”The ugly incident has fueled debate in the media with many Nigerians questioning accountability and the effectiveness of the country’s participation in high-level international events. But curiously, the government’s reaction to criticism of empty booth, absence of delegation at Japan Summit was quite confounding and poorly coordinated. Ministry of Foreign Affairs said contrary to claims made by the participant at TICAD9, Nigeria’s booth had not yet been opened, barely a day to the end of the Summit. Yet another spokesperson noted that Nigeria didn’t go there for the optics, insisting that Nigeria didn’t go there for the trade exhibition in a pavilion.
Nigerian officials post claimed: “Contrary to a tweet made by a participant at TICAD, the Nigerian Booth at #TICAD9 has not yet been opened. The booth will be officially inaugurated on Thursday, 21st August 2025, after which it will become fully operational and serve the delegates of TICAD”.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the criticism, stating that the booth had not yet been officially inaugurated and would be fully operational after the opening ceremony. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga clarified that Nigeria’s official delegation was focused on strategic discussions, not trade exhibitions. He emphasised that the country’s presence at TICAD9 aimed to foster bilateral and multilateral partnerships, stimulating economic growth and development.
And so as Nigeria’s uncoordinated response to reports of an empty pavilion at the (TICAD-9) has sparked widespread criticism, re-echoing concerns about the country’s diplomatic effectiveness, the controversy coincides with the ongoing debate about Nigeria’s failure to post ambassadors to foreign missions for two years after recalling them.
Here is the thing, it is now clear that the absence of ambassadors in foreign missions for two years has raised concerns about Nigeria’s diplomatic relations and economic growth. Some of the implications include: Diplomatic Gap: The lack of ambassadors has resulted in a significant diplomatic gap, affecting Nigeria’s ability to engage in high-level diplomatic discussions and negotiate meaningful trade agreements. Economic Losses: Many Nigerian companies rely on our embassies to navigate foreign markets and attract investment. Without ambassadors, this support is slowed down, reducing opportunities for economic growth and international business expansion. National Security Risks: Ambassadors play a key role in intelligence sharing, joint operations, and rapid crisis response. Without them, Nigeria may be cut off from vital global security networks.
The empty pavilion in Tokyo highlights the reproachful challenges Nigeria faces in its diplomatic efforts, particularly with the inexplicable absence of ambassadors in foreign missions. The government must address these concerns and ensure effective coordination among agencies to promote Nigeria’s interests abroad. By doing so, Nigeria can strengthen its diplomatic relations, attract foreign investment, and promote economic growth.
Nigeria’s ambassadorial crisis has been strangely ongoing for nearly two years, with the government yet to appoint new envoys to represent the country abroad. In September 2023, President Bola Tinubu recalled all Nigerian ambassadors, citing the need for a fresh start. However, the delay in appointing new ambassadors has raised serious questions and concerns about what the country’s interest is at the moment. There have been so many promises unfulfilled in this regard. What is worse, so many fake lists have appeared on the social media networks.
The delay in appointing new ambassadors has been attributed to various factors, including financial constraints: The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, once cited financial and economic challenges being faced by the current administration as a reason for the delay. Government priorities have also been implicated, in this regard. There is a point that the government may be prioritising domestic economic reforms over foreign policy considerations, leading to a delay in appointing new ambassadors. This claim too has been incredible as domestic policies have been crushing even as a former finance minister who now serves as chief executive of the WTO, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala recently noted that government has indeed stabilised the economy.
Impact On Nigerians Abroad
The absence of ambassadors has also affected Nigerians living abroad, who face administrative challenges and difficulties in accessing essential services. Some of the issues Nigerians in the diaspora face include: travel difficulties. Without ambassadors, Nigerians may face challenges in obtaining travel documents, emergency assistance, and other essential services, some of which have dominated social media space in recent time. There may be financial distress too to diplomats serving abroad without organic diplomatic heads at the Missions. There have been reports that foreign service officers are being owed salaries already, leading to financial difficulties in meeting family and social obligations.
The TICAD-9 crisis has now brought to the fore why President Tinubu should expedite nomination of new ambassadors to address the diplomatic vacuum and protect Nigeria’s interests abroad. Although the Nigerian government has attributed the delay to financial constraints and procedural issues, however, experts have argued that these reasons are unconvincing, given the country’s significant budget allocation for foreign missions. The lack of ambassadorial appointments therefore suggests a disconnect between budget planning and diplomatic priorities.
For instance, a Nigerian Ambassador to the United States could have played a crucial role in negotiating with US authorities to ease visa restrictions, promoting better understanding, and advocating for Nigeria’s interests. The absence of a Nigerian ambassador in the US has left a void in diplomatic representation, hindering the country’s ability to effectively address these critical issues.
Besides, all the verbal darts that a Nigeria-born British politician, Olukemi Badenoch who has served as a Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party in the U.K has been hurling on Nigeria from the United Kingdom should have been dealt with from the source if Nigeria had had a High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. That is one more reason the Nigerian government must prioritise appointing qualified Ambassadors to the United States, United Kingdom and other global powerhouses to protect and promote the country’s interests, particularly regarding visa policies and bilateral relations.
Meanwhile, whatever happened to us in Tokyo this week could have been better managed if the president’s men had allowed a properly coordinated information management. It was a diplomatic impasse that the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the presidential communication team should have been allowed to manage and control the damage professionally.
The role played by another presidential ‘spokesman’ Otega (TheTiger) Ogra has complicated the damage control mechanism of the president’s men. He claimed in the controversy:
“I feel compelled to set the record straight regarding Nigeria’s so-called booth at TICAD, which has become the subject of some unfortunate commentary. The space in question is not a conventional national pavilion. It is set out as part of the designated spillover area typically used by delegates without access to the main auditorium to follow proceedings or engage informally.
These rooms can often be used as workspaces, quiet zones, or hubs for side meetings or as some countries have done, converted to National pavilions. They are not required to be continuously manned or styled as permanent showcases. Any Nigerian delegate can use the space at any time to work, provide support for official activity, or showcase material…Now to the heart of the issue. Nigeria is not in Japan for optics. We do not need to mimic others to prove our relevance. Visibility is not the only metric. Value is.While some chase optics, Nigerian officials have been working deliberately, consistently, and with focus…”This claim contradicted what the Foreign Affairs Minister and Mr.Bayo Onanuga claimed. This isn’t good for the optics they all sought too.
All told, President Tinubu should not delay the list of ambassadorial nominees a day longer than necessary. The list of competent nominees should be filed to the National Assembly today to avoid the reproachful discussions of our image in global context.
Some Of The Recommendations Include:
Specifically, ambassadorial appointments should be prioritised at this time. The President should also ensure that Nigeria’s missions abroad are properly funded and staffed.
A time to streamline the appointment process and address financial challenges: The government should streamline the appointment process to avoid delays and ensure that qualified candidates are appointed to represent Nigeria’s interests abroad. The government should address the financial challenges facing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ensure that diplomats and foreign service officers receive their salaries and benefits in a timely manner.
- Oloja is former editor of The Guardian newspaper and his column, Inside Stuff, runs on the back page of the newspaper on Sundays. The column appears on News Point Nigeria newspaper on Mondays.