Department of Political Science and Diplomacy, Veritas University, Abuja, Dr Anya Roberts
says Nigeria’s ambassadorial nominees must be assessed primarily on integrity, character and leadership, stressing that the world is watching Nigeria’s seriousness on the global stage.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Saturday , Roberts warned that the confirmation process is “more like a test of the seriousness of Nigeria from the international community perspective,” insisting that “number one is integrity… leadership is part of it… you must be knowledgeable, have good communication skill and a sense of decorum.”
He said those responsible for confirming the nominees must understand that “whatever you say or whatever you do out there is expressing the image of Nigeria,” adding that the Senate must ensure every nominee meets the highest standards expected of diplomats.
Roberts criticised the two-year delay in submitting the ambassadorial list, arguing that “delaying for two years is not proper” because ambassadors play critical roles in shaping narratives about Nigeria abroad. According to him, “what happened to us as a nation declaring Nigeria a country of particular concern was because there was nobody there to tell these stories… so they told the stories about us.”
He explained that ambassadors should have been available to counter narratives, negotiate, clarify events and protect Nigeria’s interests, saying: “It is the duty of the ambassador to go and say, no, that is not actually how it was happening. It’s a wrong narrative.”
Roberts acknowledged that Christians were being targeted in some parts of Nigeria, but emphasised that “it’s not done by the government… they kill everybody… but there was nobody to tell the stories there.”
Responding to questions on whether the sudden submission of the list was reactive to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern”, he said “anybody could say it was reactive”, though the government may argue otherwise. Still, he insisted that the quality of the nominees should be the Senate’s main focus: “Do they have integrity? Do they have what it takes to be there?”
On President Tinubu’s call for the Senate to expedite confirmation, Roberts said the urgency reflects Nigeria’s current security needs. According to him, “the word expedite may mean hurry up… focus on this because of the importance attached to it,” noting that ambassadors will be vital in negotiations and securing international support, including access to weapons, in the fight against terrorism.
Roberts added that Nigeria must correct its culture of procrastination in governance. “Delays have consequences,” he said. “For every failure or gap in leadership, there are consequences… which is what we just saw now.”
He expressed hope that government will learn from this episode: “As time goes on, they will make such corrections because there are consequences for anything you don’t do — and don’t do on time.”
Boluwatife Enome
About the Author
