A senior programme officer at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Oge Onubogu, has made a strong appeal to President Bola Tinubu to appoint a Nigerian ambassador to the United States. This call was made during U.S. Congress deliberations on Nigeria's designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), which were monitored on Channels Television on November 21, 2025.
Onubogu emphasized that appointing a capable ambassador is critical for improving international engagements and managing narratives about Nigeria's security realities. She had previously recommended this action in her testimonies back in March.
Key Security and Governance Recommendations
Onubogu presented a multi-point plan to address Nigeria's pressing challenges. She stressed that the Nigerian government must centralize accountability in its response to crises, holding both perpetrators and authorities responsible. Impunity has led to a rise in criminality in the Middle Belt, she noted, leaving many faith communities abandoned and allowing a narrative of genocide to gain traction.
She also called for serious police reforms, pointing out that Nigeria's single federal police force is struggling with the country's complex security issues. The administration needs to accelerate initiatives like the recruitment of 30,000 new police personnel approved by President Tinubu in June. Furthermore, she highlighted that the military is overstretched, performing duties that should fall to the police. She recommended reassigning police officers currently providing personal security to wealthy elites to focus on serious crimes.
Electoral Preparedness and U.S.-Nigeria Relations
Onubogu underscored the desperate need for effective coordination between Nigeria's federal and state governments, which is often undermined by finger-pointing. Looking ahead, she urged the government to start laying the groundwork for peaceful elections in 2027. Nigeria must address the use of religion as a trigger for electoral violence. She sees the new leadership of the election commission as a chance to restore public trust and promote responsible political behaviour.
Finally, she advocated for a fresh approach in the relationship between the Nigerian and U.S. governments. Nigeria must tackle institutional weaknesses in security, justice, and conflict prevention to end violence and ensure accountability. She recommended that the U.S. engage in open dialogue to better understand Nigeria's complexity. Both nations, she said, should leverage current diplomatic tensions to strengthen their bilateral relationship and collaboratively address the wider threats of jihadist violence in West Africa and the Sahara region.
