Appoint ambassadors to defend Nigeria’s image, civil society council tells Tinubu

The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) says the allegation of genocide against Christians in Nigeria is misleading.

In a communique on Saturday at the end of the council’s emergency meeting in Abuja, NCSCN said the designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” by the US President Donald Trump was “not based on facts”. 

“The civil society actors observed the absence of an authentic and accessible database on statistics of victims of terrorists and bandit attacks in Nigeria, as it concerns gender, age and religion, which has resulted in unverifiable claims and speculations,” the communique reads.

“Available records to the civil society clearly show that Muslims and Islamic communities are equally affected and may even have more casualties and affected families.”

With 310 members drawn across various religions in Nigeria, the group asked the federal government to appoint ambassadors for Nigeria across the world, especially the US. 

This, they said, will improve Nigeria’s engagement in the international community to foster diplomatic relations, promote mutual understanding, and advocate for the country’s interests in negotiating agreements and resolving disputes.

“Today, Nigerian embassies are the most inactive globally, leaving us vulnerable to manipulations and at the mercy of world powers,” the communique added. 

“President Bola Tinubu must prioritise the appointment of ambassadors and international lobbyists to safeguard Nigeria’s interests and promote the country’s growth and development.”

The NCSCN asked Tinubu to transmit the list of ambassador nominees to the senate for confirmation before the end of November 2025.

The group claimed that since former President Olusegun Obasanjo left office, Nigeria has suffered a bad image in the international community due to a “lack of international lobbyists” to push through policies and agenda of the government among nations and multinationals businesses.

“Nigeria’s global influence and interests are at stake as President Tinubu’s administration remains without ambassadors and international lobbyists,” the council said. 

“It is imperative that President Tinubu urgently appoints ambassadors and international lobbyists to represent Nigeria’s interests and project the country’s soft power. 

“Ambassadors influence public opinion and shape international perceptions, showcasing Nigeria’s heritage, arts, and values. The appointment of ambassadors will not only enhance Nigeria’s global reputation but also promote cultural understanding and exchange.

“The civil society observes deliberate politicisation of the state of insecurity in the country and a subtle overheating of the polity by politicians, fueling the situation and perverting narrations to gain advantages over each other.”

The council said it will build an independent database of incidents and statistics of terrorist and bandit attacks to help categorise the gender, age, and religion of victims and affected families.

The council asked the federal government to convene an inter-religious dialogue on the issue of Christian genocide, noting that deploying the organised civil society will help to set the record straight and douse mounting tension across the country.