Daniel Bwala, the special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on policy communication, has attributed the lack of funds to the delay in appointment of Ambassadors by President Bola Tinubu.
Reports that in 2023, Mr Tinubu recalled all career and non-careers ambassadors back to the country.
Since then, there had been mounting pressure on the President to make fresh appointments.
But speaking on the delay during an interview on PAPshow podcast, Mr Bwala explained that the Tinubu administration was aware of growing pressure from Nigerians.
He said: “Mr President has acknowledged the delays in the ambassadorial list, primarily due to funding constraints affecting our foreign embassies, an issue I am diligently addressing.
Mr Bwala also revealed that Mr Tinubu might decide to prioritise only key strategic postings, particularly in G-20 countries.
“Despite the surrounding clamour, the President can strategically prioritise appointments to G20 nations, recognising their critical economic partnerships with us,” he said.
According to him, “the ambassadorial list will be resolved promptly, ensuring effective representation”.
“We know the challenges in all the foreign embassies. He said he is looking into it.
“But in every embassy where there is no ambassador, there are Nigerian representatives there that can communicate with the foreign governments,” he said.
However, the presidential aide acknowledged the importance of filling the positions.
He said: “But we also understand the importance of having an ambassador, especially because it will boost the credence and the respect that the country will have towards us.
“Who knows if the President, even in the midst of this cacophony, might just identify the G-20 countries and send ambassadors to these G-20 countries?
“Those countries, we consider them as serious countries in terms of doing business. If you have ambassadors in those countries, you can strengthen that. But there is nothing like that on the ground.”
He added that, “this President is a listening President. Whenever you make a good case for something, he will find an answer to it, either it is implemented immediately or he will look into it and implement it or he will tell you why it is being delayed.
“He said it not as if he doesn’t know but it is because we have funding issues, and he promised that he is going to look into it,” he said.
“We know the challenges in all the foreign embassies. He said he is looking into it.
“But in every embassy where there is no ambassador, there are Nigerian representatives there that can communicate with the foreign governments,” he said.
However, the presidential aide acknowledged the importance of filling the positions.
He said: “But we also understand the importance of having an ambassador, especially because it will boost the credence and the respect that the country will have towards us.
“Who knows if the President, even in the midst of this cacophony, might just identify the G-20 countries and send ambassadors to these G-20 countries?
“Those countries, we consider them as serious countries in terms of doing business. If you have ambassadors in those countries, you can strengthen that. But there is nothing like that on the ground.”
He added that, “this President is a listening President. Whenever you make a good case for something, he will find an answer to it, either it is implemented immediately or he will look into it and implement it or he will tell you why it is being delayed.
“He said it not as if he doesn’t know but it is because we have funding issues, and he promised that he is going to look into it,” he said.
