Experts Urge Tinubu to Appoint Nigerian Ambassador to U.S. to Strengthen Engagements

Oge Onubogu, senior programme officer for Africa Programmes at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), has called on President Bola Tinubu to appoint a Nigerian ambassador to the U.S. to enhance international engagement and shape global perceptions of Nigeria’s security situation.

Speaking during U.S. Congress deliberations on Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), Onubogu emphasized the urgent need for a capable ambassador to represent Nigeria’s interests and address misconceptions about the country’s security challenges.

“It is critical for President Tinubu to appoint a competent Nigerian ambassador to the U.S., as I highlighted in my testimonies in March,” she said.

Onubogu also stressed the importance of accountability in Nigeria’s response to rising insecurity. “Nigerian citizens deserve justice. The surge in criminality across the Middle Belt is fueled by impunity. Years of mass killings without accountability have left faith communities vulnerable, which has amplified narratives of genocide.”

Highlighting police reform as a priority, she noted: “Nigeria’s single federal police force is overstretched and struggles to tackle the country’s complex security issues. The Tinubu administration should accelerate initiatives to boost citizen security, including recruiting the 30,000 new police personnel approved in June.”

She also pointed out the military’s overextension, with personnel often performing duties meant for the police. “The government must reassign police officers who provide personal security to elites, enabling them to focus on serious crimes,” she added.

Onubogu urged improved coordination between federal and state governments, warning that finger-pointing undermines effective security responses. She also highlighted the need to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 elections and curb religion-based electoral violence.

“Nigeria must address institutional weaknesses in security, justice, and conflict prevention to end violence and hold perpetrators accountable. Both Nigeria and the U.S. should engage in open dialogue, leveraging diplomatic cooperation to tackle jihadist threats in West Africa and the Sahara,” she said.