Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki (Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency, Sokoto State) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint seasoned retired military officers as part of the next set of ambassadorial nominees, especially for countries critical to Nigeria’s defence cooperation and procurement of military equipment needed to confront terrorism, insurgency and banditry.
In a statement, Dasuki argued that Nigeria has a pool of highly trained former military officers who have undergone rigorous strategic and tactical instruction, led major operations and gained extensive on-the-ground combat knowledge throughout their careers.
He said these veterans possess the competence, insight and operational awareness required to represent Nigeria more effectively in countries where defence relations and arms acquisition are central to the nation’s security priorities.
According to Dasuki, “Our retired senior military personnel have served this nation with distinction. Their firsthand understanding of modern warfare, counterterrorism strategies and defence procurement puts them in a unique position to advance our national interests abroad.”
He added that “Deploying them as envoys to strategic countries will not only strengthen negotiations for essential military hardware but also ensure that the government receives informed, experience-based strategic advice at a time when the military needs modern reconnaissance drones and armed UAVs to combat all forms of armed conflicts that have become existential threats to the country.”
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Dasuki acknowledged that ambassadorial appointments rest solely with the President, but insisted that the scale of present security challenges justifies a more defence-oriented approach to diplomatic postings, especially in nations vital to Nigeria’s military cooperation.
He stressed that “Insecurity has remained the most pressing challenge confronting our nation for over two decades,” noting that the situation has deteriorated with rising killings, abductions and violent attacks.
According to him, “In recent times, the situation has worsened, with unacceptable levels of killings, kidnappings, and violent attacks across many parts of the country. These extraordinary times require extraordinary strategic alignment, including in our foreign policy direction and the calibre of individuals deployed to advance it.”
Dasuki maintained that foreign policy must reflect national security priorities, particularly when selecting envoys for countries where Nigeria seeks defence collaboration.
He argued that deploying retired officers with deep operational background to these roles would help Nigeria aggressively pursue its defence goals, enhance strategic alliances and improve access to the equipment, intelligence and partnerships required to tackle mounting security threats.
