Nigeria’s global diplomatic footprint remains weak 65 years after

As Nigeria marks 65 years of independence, its influence in Africa remains under scrutiny. Despite its stature as Africa’s largest democracy and most populous nation, Nigeria’s diplomatic presence on the global stage remains alarmingly thin.

If Nigeria is to fulfil its destiny as a continental leader and credible global player, it must urgently reform its foreign policy, beginning with putting the right people in the right places, analysts say.

Today, only one embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, is responsible for Sweden as well as Denmark, Norway, and Finland. Such sparse representation is not merely symbolic; it reflects a deeper malaise in Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture.

As there are only 24 diplomatic missions across Europe, Nigeria’s footprint is dwarfed by the United States and China, which maintain 273 and 276 respectively.

The consequences are tangible: delayed passport processing for Nigerians abroad, missed trade opportunities, and a weakened voice in international affairs.

A legacy worth reclaiming

Nigeria’s Foreign Service was once a model of excellence. The country produced diplomatic giants such as Jaja Wachukwu, Nigeria’s first foreign minister and UN ambassador; Emeka Anyaoku, former secretary-general of the Commonwealth; Uzoma Emenike, the first female Nigerian ambassador to the United States; and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, now director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO). These figures showcased Nigeria’s capacity to lead and influence globally.

In its early years after independence, Nigeria championed the anti-apartheid struggle, provided military and diplomatic leadership in ECOWAS, and played decisive roles in peacekeeping in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

But in recent decades, merit has taken a back seat to political patronage. Strategic postings are too often awarded to allies rather than professionals, leaving missions under-resourced and poorly managed. This erosion has undermined Nigeria’s credibility abroad and diminished its diplomatic leverage.

Tinubu’s foreign policy doctrine: the 4Ds

President Bola Tinubu has framed foreign policy around the ‘4D Doctrine’ — Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, minister of Foreign Affairs, has promoted this vision at global platforms such as the G20 and the UN General Assembly. However, the slow pace of ambassadorial appointments and the absence of missions in strategic capitals suggest a troubling gap between rhetoric and reality.

In September 2023, Tinubu recalled all ambassadors and high commissioners worldwide. Over two years later, the embassies remain leaderless, “We have more than 110 missions across the globe… and we don’t even have ambassadors,” lamented Sunny Ofehe, executive assistant to the Delta State governor on external relations and diaspora affairs.

The absence of ambassadors is more than an inconvenience; it undermines the very deals Tinubu has been signing abroad. In November 2024, Nigeria sealed a $2.5 billion agreement with JBS, the world’s largest meat processing company, in Brazil. Yet he noted that there is no ambassador in Brazil to follow through.

Read also: Counting the cost of a mismanaged nation @ 65

Round pegs in round holes

According to Anthonia Okon, an international relations scholar, the first step towards repositioning Nigeria globally is reforming the ambassadorial appointment process. Diplomacy demands more than ceremonial presence; it requires negotiation skills, geopolitical insight, cultural fluency, and mastery of international law. Career diplomats, not political appointees, must be entrusted with these roles.

Experts argue that a rigorous selection process involves the Foreign Ministry, National Assembly vetting, and Presidential approval. Without qualified personnel, expanding Nigeria’s reach would be futile. Opening embassies in Denmark, Norway, and Finland, for instance, could deepen Nigeria’s bilateral trade and energy partnerships in the Nordic region, but only if led by competent envoys.

The human and financial cost

The impact of Nigeria’s frail diplomatic reach is not confined to missed trade opportunities or stalled agreements.

Bolanle Olukanni, a Nigerian media personality, recently shared her frustration after her father, Ayoola Olukanni, a retired diplomat with over 30 years of service, was denied a Schengen visa alongside his wife by the Austrian embassy. The rejection underscored the diminished global standing of the Nigerian passport.

Ordinary Nigerians face even harsher realities, with families waiting endlessly for passport renewals in London and New York, and business travellers facing humiliating visa denials all illustrate the human toll. Joe Keshi, a former Nigerian diplomat, captured the stakes bluntly when he described Washington’s decision to slash visa validity for Nigerians as “a diplomatic setback that reflects Nigeria’s weak negotiating power.” Such a move, he warned, “will make life more difficult for students, tech innovators and business people,” underscoring how gaps in foreign policy directly undercut Nigeria’s global standing and its people’s aspirations.

Financial dysfunction deepens the problem. Recently, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, admitted that years of budget shortfalls and foreign exchange fluctuations had crippled embassies, leaving many unable to pay salaries, allowances, or even rent. The ministry says intervention funds and ‘second semester allocations’ have now been released, with over 80 percent of debts cleared. Some missions have begun stabilising, but until ambassadors are appointed and embassies properly funded, the crisis remains unresolved.

Economic stakes

The stakes are economic as well as symbolic. According to the International Organisation for Migration’s 2024 report, about 2.1 million Nigerians live abroad, sending home $21 billion in remittances. Yet, embassies remain ill-equipped to facilitate diaspora investment, trade promotion, or even consular services. A robust diplomatic presence, led by skilled professionals, would not only ease citizen frustrations but also attract meaningful Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

In a recent interview, Bolaji Akinyemi, former external affairs minister, analysed Tinubu’s administration as being more transactional, that is, focused on investments rather than projecting political presence. “He seems to be more interested in what I will call transactional foreign policy. He goes to Brazil where he can sign agreements with businessmen and leaves the political body language to his vice president,” Akinyemi noted.

He also pointed out that the Government had failed to appoint ambassadors in Washington, London, Paris, and at the United Nations, stressing that such neglect undermines foreign policy. “Diplomacy runs on ambassadorial contacts… we need to have these ambassadors back at post as soon as possible,” he said.