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The Project Victory Call Initiative (PVC-Naija) has reacted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent explanation on the delay in appointing substantive ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions, stressing that national interest must not be compromised.
In a statement signed by its President, Paula Bellgam, the group acknowledged Tinubu’s admission that “political and administrative hurdles” had slowed down the process since the recall of ambassadors in 2023. The President had cited nearly $1 billion in outstanding financial obligations for foreign service staff salaries, embassy renovations, and operational logistics, alongside the challenge of balancing candidate selection.
PVC-Naija commended Tinubu’s openness, describing it as “a prompt response to public concerns” raised by analysts including Citizen Bolaji Oluwayanmife Akinyemi, Dr. Ola Olateju, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Akinwande Bolaji Akinyemi, who criticized the prolonged delay.
However, the Initiative urged the Presidency and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to avoid letting “the naughty area” of political considerations stall the process. Instead, it called for drawing from Nigeria’s pool of career diplomats, technocrats, and credible professionals across regions, ensuring that “merit, competence, and national representation are prioritized above patronage.”
“The dynamic of this debate is a sign of democracy at work,” the statement noted. “Citizens raise concerns, the President responds, and institutions are challenged to deliver. But beyond acknowledgement, Nigerians want action. Our embassies cannot continue to function as ghost houses.”
The group emphasized that foreign missions are not ceremonial but “strategic outposts” that protect over 15 million Nigerians in the diaspora, attract investments, and promote Nigeria’s global image.
Calling for urgent steps, PVC-Naija demanded that the President submit ambassadorial nominees to the Senate without further delay, noting that “Nigeria must regain its rightful voice and presence in world capitals.”
“Democracy thrives when issues remain in public conversation until they are resolved,” the statement concluded. “We urge Nigerians at home and abroad to keep this issue alive until our embassies once again become the springboards of national interest they were meant to be.”
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