The Chairman of the Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics LTD/GTE, Dele Oye, has warned that weak coordination across key arms of government is undermining Nigeria’s economic competitiveness and restricting the ability of local businesses to access global opportunities.

In a policy document released by the Alliance, Oye argued that lapses in diplomacy, trade coordination and economic policymaking have weakened Nigeria’s position in international markets and slowed efforts to expand market access for domestic enterprises.

According to him, the failure of more than 60 countries to grant diplomatic agrément to Nigeria’s newly nominated ambassadors highlights broader governance shortcomings and has reduced the country’s influence in bilateral negotiations.

“In March 2026, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the deployment of 65 ambassadors and high commissioners to restore Nigeria’s diplomatic presence after a troubling 30-month vacuum. The announcement should have signaled institutional recovery. Instead, it exposed systemic failures in Nigeria’s governance architecture,” Oye said.

He noted that only the United Kingdom and France have so far granted agrément to Nigeria’s nominees, while several other countries, including India, Germany and Mexico, have reportedly declined approval based on a diplomatic convention that discourages accepting envoys from governments with less than two years remaining in office.

Oye said the development reflects a breakdown in adherence to diplomatic protocols, noting that some governments may be reluctant to accredit ambassadors who might serve only briefly before Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

He also pointed to incidents that he said illustrate institutional lapses, including the announcement and subsequent withdrawal of former Kebbi State Governor Usman Dakingari as Nigeria’s envoy to Türkiye following what officials described as a “naming mix-up,” even before the nominee had been screened by the National Assembly.

Quoting former envoy Ogbole Amedu‑Ode, Oye argued that the ambassadorial impasse was partly due to delays in the nomination and deployment of heads of missions.

Beyond the diplomatic concerns, Oye criticised what he described as the excessive consolidation of trade-related responsibilities under the Nigeria Revenue Service following the enactment of the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2025 and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025.

He warned that the transfer of trade facilitation functions to a revenue-collection agency could undermine specialised institutions responsible for customs administration, investment promotion and export processing zones.

According to him, the empowerment of the NRS to establish and manage a National Single Window Portal for import, export and transit documentation effectively places a critical trade coordination mechanism under a tax authority rather than agencies with logistics and trade expertise.

Oye also raised concerns over what he described as the limited participation of the organised private sector in high-level diplomatic engagements, particularly during presidential foreign visits.

He noted that unlike countries such as China, India and Morocco, where government and business delegations are closely integrated during state visits, Nigerian business representatives often lack structured access to negotiations that shape trade agreements and market access.

This, he said, weakens Nigeria’s ability to convert diplomatic relationships into tangible economic gains for local companies.

Oye further criticised abrupt policy interventions affecting export value chains, including restrictions on agricultural exports, warning that inconsistent consultations with industry stakeholders have created price volatility and disrupted planning for small-scale producers and processors, particularly in rural communities dependent on export-driven livelihoods.

“The rejection of Nigeria’s ambassadors by over 60 countries is not merely a diplomatic slight—it is a verdict on governance quality,” he said, stressing that credible international engagement depends on adherence to institutional processes.

He added that for Nigeria to compete effectively in the global economy, government must strengthen coordination among key institutions, respect the mandates of specialised agencies, and integrate private-sector expertise into trade diplomacy.

“The path to global competitiveness runs through institutional integrity, not around it,” Oye stated.

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