Ambassador John James Usanga is Nigeria’s Ambassador to Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde. The Akwa Ibom state-born diplomat is a 1991 law graduate from the University of Jos in this interview with BENJAMIN SAMSON, he speaks about Nigeria and Nigerians, the unique role of Nigeria as the Giant of Africa and regional power that countries in Africa look up to for direction and support, his sojourn in Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde, what it meant to him as the Nigerian ambassador to receive the nation’s newest war ship, NNS KADA, and more.
How do you feel today, first as a Nigerian seeing this massive naval platform, NNS KADA?
My joy today knows no bounds, my pride as a Nigerian has exceeded all limits. I must admit that seeing this massive ship makes me more proud to be a Nigerian.
What does the arrival of the warship mean to you as an ambassador and the representative of the President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces?
It means that our leadership cannot be disputed; it means that Nigeria will always stand up for her brothers everywhere in Africa. We just don’t think about ourselves alone, we think about the wellbeing of other people, and this stabilisation mission in Guinea Bissau is one of those things that we are using to demonstrate the fact that we will always stand to fight for others. We are always there in support of those who don’t have the capacity. There is an adage that says a load is lighter when someone helps to carry it. We are here to carry the load, it doesn’t matter whether we have problems or not.
How important is it for Nigeria to keep the promise she made at independence that Africa would continue to be the centerpiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy?
I received so many calls from Nigeria asking whether we are at war in Guinea Bissau to mobilise NNS KADA on the very first national assignment. And I told them that we are not at war. We were mobilising Nigerian Armed Forces in support of ECOWAS – through ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea Bissau (ESMGB) to support the effort of Guinea Bissau in maintaining peace and order that we may achieve what we have always stood for – stabilisation in Africa, economic development, peace and security, human rights.
My assurance to Nigerians is that we are not at war with Guinea Bissau.
And my assurance to Guinea Bissau is that the effort is to maintain peace and harmony because it is the interest of everyone that we all remain in peace.
Sir, what did you say to the Nigerian crew on NNS KADA?
One of the things that made me so proud is boarding the ship and finding out that everyone is a Nigerian. I see a family. I don’t see any difference that we shout about; we are together for the same purpose, in the same circumstances and in the same fraternity. I see brotherhood, I see greater Nigeria and I see hope where these people are together and I think we don’t have problems, we only have perceived problems when it comes to national unity.
With this platform, what’s your message to the contingent?
For the contingent, I will like to encourage you to stay within the limit of your authority. We are not here to boost our ego. We are not to show that we have weapons, but to stay within the limit of the authority until we achieve our purpose, and the purpose is peace and stability in the ECOWAS sub-region.
How has it been as the Nigerian ambassador?
It’s been very pleasant. The only thing is that we miss Nigerian food, but we are enjoying the fish.
I thought since Her Excellency is by your side you would not miss Nigerian food or anything…
Yes, to some extent we have some. But there are some things we don’t have like the benefit of enjoying edikaikong, afang and other Nigerian delicacies. We have to travel all the way to The Gambia to get those things, but we are working on a way to see if Nigerians can bring in their goods here. We are interfacing with the business people, we are interfacing with the people in the government to make the environment conducive for Nigerians to come in with their investments because these place needs help; it’s a virgin territory, the land is fertile, we just need to show them how we have been able to achieve a level of stability in our food programmes and then the rest will be easy for everyone.
What challenges do you face with the Nigerians that are resident there?
For us here, we are just like one family. As a matter of fact, I’m very lucky because Nigerians in Cape Verde, Nigerians in Guinea Bissau are like one family. Many issues arise and Nigerians just settle amongst themselves, even police cases they don’t even bring to the attention of the embassy, it’s when it becomes so difficult that they say the embassy should intervene. We are good, we are peaceful people. We don’t have any record of a Nigerian in prison here.
How has it been representing Nigerians in these two countries?
We were appointed in 2020 at the peak of Covid-19, but assumed duties on 26 May 2021. One of the biggest surprises that confronted me was the location of the Consulate Building in Bissau, it was a rented apartment located in a bus stop. In fact, my office was right behind the bus stop, anybody could climb the tree that was in front to do anything.
The office was right in the bus stop between the building and the road, it wasn’t even more than 10 metres; so one of the things I noticed was the situation of that building and I said to myself, this is not befitting for the image of our country. So, the first thing we set out to do was to at least complete the ground floor of the permanent consulate building owned by Nigeria and move in immediately. I also observed that the attitude to work was not very encouraging.
So, I used the vibrancy of my private sector background to try to change the attitude to work. I am proud to say everybody has embraced the change we have brought in.
What important assignments have you carried out?
When I assumed office I received a request for a tour from the delegation of the National Defence College, Nigeria to both Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau. Despite the short notice and the fact that I had not settled down, working with my team at the embassies, we were able to host them on a study tour and they went back very happy.
Another aspect I addressed head-on was consulate matters. I streamlined it. What is most important to me is that from onset, I promised to lead by example and I have so far succeeded.
Is it true that your embassy is one of the ones considered in the Nigerian diplomatic circles and foreign postings as a hardship posting?
Yes, it is. Guinea Bissau is rated as a hardship posting. In fact, there are only two hardship postings right now, Guinea Bissau and North Korea.
Nigerian House is looking new
Yes, as I mentioned earlier, both the residence and office accommodation for the embassy was not befitting of the status and position of Nigeria as a regional power. So, my priority was to ensure that I do whatever is possible to equip both the residence and office in order not to expose the nation to ridicule. The project for the office was on for 13 years before I assumed office. I am glad I broke the jinx. For me, this has remained my greatest achievement so far.
How did you feel yesterday receiving this very important national plaque on deployment to Guinea Bissau?
I don’t know how to express how I felt yesterday but it was surreal for me, it was very gratifying if I must say to a superlative degree. It was a great privilege to receive, to enter and see what it’s all about. It is my very first time in military equipment such as NNS KADA and I feel very proud as a Nigerian.
What do you say of the Nigerian Armed Forces, on their contributions at home and abroad?
One of the most amazing things that I’ve come to really appreciate is the fact that NNS KADA as we know, is the Nigeria Navy, now there is no Nigerian Navy among the contingent but the Nigerian navy is bringing supplies for the Nigerian Army or the contingent. What you see is the coalition, the working together, and the single-mindedness of achieving a purpose irrespective of where they belong.
They are giving their lives to rescue nations and for me that I am very appealing and you know, like NNS KADA bringing supplies, and I’ve got to understand that NNS KADA is not just about military operations, I remember when we went to rescue people in Liberia, Sierra Leone, it was a ship like this. There were two Liberians we came in contact with who said they had to jump into the Nigerian warship, it wasn’t a warship it was a utility vessel like this, that is what rescued them.
They didn’t know what happened to their parents. So, this NNS KADA is not just a military vessel, it is a vessel for Africa and ECOWAS in times of natural disasters and there is a need for massive evacuation and this makes me very proud, the military men are sacrificing and happy to do it both for Nigeria and for other countries. That makes me have hope that at least someday in my lifetime I will witness one Africa.
What are you doing in terms of creating opportunities, business concerns for Nigerians both here and in Guinea Bissau?
I have been pushing, very seriously, mobilising other ECOWAS ambassadors to prevail on the government to adopt policies that are conducive for investment and investors from ECOWAS particularly from Nigeria. Can you imagine one industry set up here employing 2000 people, that’s more than 20% of the population taken off?
We have collaborated with a lot of people in the government and in the private sector, to make Nigerians become aware of the prospect here then we begin to see Nigerians investing and taking up opportunities that for me will be a good reward because these countries have been our trusted allies in multi-lateral relationships but we have a big problem of connectivity. It was just going to come to that.
We have a very big problem of connectivity in this place, we need maritime transport to move the goods, and we need air connectivity. I will encourage the Nigerian aviation sector to begin to look toward that. Aircraft can be deployed to these islands and they will still make a lot of money.
One of the challenges of ambassadors all over the world is their countries’ community and where they work. How is your relationship with Nigerians that are in Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde?
Let me say this, I think I’m very blessed because both in Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau we don’t have problems, we are like brothers, the executives of the community is such that it is rotational, so it’s not random and everyone is happy and then the Nigerians are very well behaved both here In Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde. Nigerians in Cape Verde are very well integrated, they marry and they settle with good businesses legitimately, they have no problems, the president of the Nigerian community is very well respected so they don’t even need to come to the embassy for some issues except those issues that are grievous.
What is your relationship with the government of the two countries?
We are well liked in the two countries. We are well integrated, they love us and we love them both here (Guinea Bissau) and Cape Verde.
What is your message to younger Nigerians on the issue of national unity?
You know, the people who have not travelled out of their home-base will never embrace one Nigeria. I schooled in the north specifically University of Jos, I went to Law School in Lagos and lived in Warri, I have travelled and everywhere I go, I make friends I see myself as a Nigerian, I see no discrimination everybody is just like a brother the only difference is that the food might be different. I tell people what makes us Nigerians is just who we are, our personality is the difference. That multi-ethnic society, that’s what makes us a thick, multi ethnic society, working together in coalition and filled with population.
Power is in our number; our power is in multi ethnicity. Nigeria was delivered to us on sweat, commitment, and sometimes the blood and the financial resources of our nationalist. It will therefore take a true patriot to sustain what was delivered to us. President Muhammadu Buhari always said, “We have no other country other than Nigeria. We must remain and salvage it together.”
How do you feel serving your country as an ambassador?
I consider it a very great privilege to be appointed to serve the nation in this capacity. I’m very grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari and I will forever remain grateful to him for making it possible to contribute my little quota to our national development.
How much do you miss Nigeria?
My family is here with me, except that we are not complete. However, I miss the vibrancy of Nigeria. That’s all that I miss about Nigeria. I miss the vibrancy of Lagos, Lagos is a fast society. Here we do even slower than 80kph meters but Lagos is 100kph.
How do you spend your time off official duties?
I am a very homely person, I like to sit down and watch television with my family, we are a very close family. We just like to gather in one room and have a good time as a family, and sometimes we have family outings. Sometimes we travel together
I have a young child and because I want to know what she is doing sometimes I have to pause, and force myself to sit down and watch what she is watching to be able to see where her mind is going.
