By Raphael Oni
Nigeria’s next major battle may not be fought on the battlefield, but in the quiet corridors of global diplomacy — in Geneva, Addis Ababa, New York, and other international centres where influence is negotiated, not inherited. In these spaces, a single misstep can cost more than a military operation, and credibility is earned through expertise, not political loyalty.
Every great nation is remembered for the wars it wins and the peace it brokers. While the former rests in the hands of the armed forces, the latter depends on those who speak for the country when the world is watching. Nigeria must therefore send not its most loyal politician, but its most competent diplomat.
With the recent resignation of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar as Minister of Foreign Affairs, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has a critical opportunity to recalibrate Nigeria’s foreign policy direction before the end of his first term.
This comes amid concerns over the administration’s underwhelming performance in the diplomatic arena from tensions within ECOWAS and the Niger crisis, to delays in ambassadorial appointments and diplomatic missteps with receiving states.
To reposition Nigeria on the global stage, the appointment of the next Foreign Minister must be guided by competence, not patronage. A career diplomat not a “pure-bred” politician should be entrusted with this strategic role.
As with defence, foreign affairs sits on Nigeria’s exclusive constitutional list and requires technical depth, institutional memory, and strategic discipline.
Recent leadership at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has exposed gaps in focus and execution. Diplomacy is not ceremonial; it is rigorous, continuous work involving negotiations, strategic engagements, economic coordination, and crisis management. It requires expertise built over decades not instincts honed in partisan politics.
Placing inexperienced leadership at the helm weakens the entire diplomatic structure. Career officers, trained over years from desk roles to directorship, are left compensating for gaps at the top rather than executing national strategy. This erodes morale and drives away valuable expertise.
History offers clear lessons. Nigeria’s global standing improved significantly under career diplomats such as Ambassador Ignatius Olisemeka (1998–1999), Ambassador Olu Adeniji (2003–2006), and Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru (2011–2013). Their tenures demonstrated that professionalism and experience translate into influence and respect on the world stage.
Conversely, appointing underperforming political figures sends the wrong signal internationally that Nigeria does not take its foreign policy seriously. Such perceptions are quickly exploited by other nations.
Nigeria’s diplomatic influence has also waned relative to its peers. While the country joined BRICS as a partner in 2025, South Africa remains a full member. Ghana, meanwhile, has taken the lead in championing a landmark UN resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity an initiative historically linked to Nigeria’s late MKO Abiola.
What Nigeria needs now is not political loyalty, but strategic competence. The next Foreign Minister must be a seasoned diplomat someone who understands negotiation dynamics, global power shifts, and the practical tools of diplomacy, including migration policies, trade leverage, and multilateral engagement.
Equally important is adherence to the Foreign Service Regulations, which mandate that at least 75% of ambassadorial appointments go to career diplomats. This provision has increasingly been ignored, contributing to declining morale within the diplomatic corps. Restoring this balance is essential for rebuilding institutional strength.
In a rapidly changing world defined by climate challenges, digital disruption, and shifting alliances, Nigeria cannot afford on-the-job training in its foreign policy leadership.
The concept of “variable geometry diplomacy” the ability to engage different partners at varying speeds depending on national interests demands agility, experience, and strategic clarity.
President Tinubu must therefore look beyond political considerations and appoint a technocratic, career diplomat to lead Nigeria’s foreign affairs.
Such a decision would signal seriousness, restore credibility, and position Nigeria to reclaim its leadership role in Africa and beyond.
The world is moving fast. Nigeria must decide whether to keep pace or be left behind.
