The lawmaker representing Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency in Sokoto State, Abdussamad Dasuki, has called on President Bola Tinubu to include seasoned retired military officers in the next batch of ambassadorial appointments.
In a statement, Dasuki said Nigeria possesses a large pool of retired senior officers who have received extensive strategic and tactical training, led major operations, and gathered critical battlefield experience during their service years.
He argued that such officers would be valuable as envoys, particularly in countries where Nigeria seeks military cooperation and support in acquiring vital hardware needed to combat insurgency, banditry, and terrorism.
“Our retired senior military personnel have served this nation with distinction. Their firsthand understanding of modern warfare, counterterrorism, and defence procurement puts them in a unique position to advance our national interests abroad,” he said.
According to Dasuki, deploying them as ambassadors to key countries would enhance negotiations for modern weaponry and ensure that the federal government receives informed, experience-driven advice—especially as the military urgently requires advanced reconnaissance drones and armed UAVs to confront evolving security threats.
While acknowledging that ambassadorial appointments remain the exclusive constitutional privilege of the President, Dasuki stressed that current national security realities demand a more defence-oriented approach to foreign postings.
“Insecurity has remained the nation’s most persistent challenge for over two decades. The situation has deteriorated in recent times, with rising cases of killings, kidnappings, and violent attacks. Extraordinary times require extraordinary strategic realignment, including in foreign policy and in the quality of individuals chosen to drive it,” he said.
The lawmaker added that Nigeria’s strategic interests must reflect in the selection of envoys, especially in countries where defence and security cooperation remain top priorities.
