Former Nigerian Ambassador to Austria, Ayoola Olukanni, has raised concerns about Nigeria’s diplomatic relationship with the United States following Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president of the US.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, Olukanni criticized Nigeria’s lack of ambassadors in key global capitals, including Washington D.C., a situation he believes could hinder bilateral ties with the Trump administration.
“And unfortunately, the Trump administration came in yesterday, no ambassador in Washington. No ambassador in the UK, no ambassador in New York, no ambassador in France, no ambassador in Russia,” Olukanni lamented. “How do we want to engage the Trump administration without an ambassador on the ground in Washington? That’s the question I would like to ask you.”
Olukanni also expressed doubts about President Trump’s interest in Africa, suggesting that Nigeria may struggle to deepen its ties with the US under the current circumstances.
He noted that a strong diplomatic presence is vital for fostering international relations, especially with a leader like Trump, whose foreign policy priorities remain uncertain.
The diplomat further analyzed Trump’s inaugural address, describing it as lacking in concrete strategies to address global conflicts.
He criticized the speech as overly rhetorical and focused on campaign promises rather than actionable plans.
“And watching President Donald Trump yesterday speak, it was like he was still campaigning in poetry: ‘I will end the wars,’ ‘I will bring peace to the world.’ But what are the details that are involved, the nitty-gritty of it?” Olukanni questioned.
Drawing from his experience at the United Nations in New York and as a diplomat in Tel Aviv, Israel, Olukanni underscored the complexity of achieving peace in the Middle East.
He highlighted the Gaza crisis as a pivotal challenge for Trump’s administration.
“If he can swing the end of the war in Gaza, it will be a major, major, major history because of the implication of that crisis in Gaza,” Olukanni noted. “The question of peace in the Middle East is very, very important for the entire world as a whole. So if he can do it, that would be great.”
The absence of Nigerian ambassadors in key global cities raises questions about the nation’s readiness to engage with influential players on the global stage.
Olukanni’s comments serve as a wake-up call for the Nigerian government to address its diplomatic gaps and strengthen its foreign policy strategy in light of the Trump administration’s uncertain approach to Africa.
As Trump begins his presidency, the spotlight remains on how Nigeria and other African nations will navigate their relationship with the US.