President Bola Tinubu is set to complete the long-awaited appointment of ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions across the world after months of diplomatic gaps and internal adjustments.
Presidency officials revealed that the President has ordered a final review of the list of nominees before making it public. The update comes amid increasing concern over the absence of Nigerian ambassadors in many countries since September 2023, when Tinubu recalled all envoys as part of a foreign policy review.
The process, which had stalled for over a year, is now being concluded due to several changes among earlier nominees. Some of those initially listed have reportedly passed away, retired, or taken up other appointments, while others are no longer qualified to serve. The Senate had already screened the initial list before it was returned to the Presidency for correction.
Sources within the Presidency confirmed that the security and background checks for the nominees were completed months ago. However, the new review aims to update the list and ensure only eligible and available candidates remain. The final verification process is expected to be concluded soon.
Nigeria currently operates 109 foreign missions, including embassies, high commissions, and consulates. Since the recall of ambassadors, most of these missions have been overseen by chargés d’affaires and senior consular officers who have limited authority to represent the country in international affairs.
Officials said the prolonged absence of ambassadors has affected Nigeria’s diplomatic visibility and influence, especially at a time when the country is dealing with global and regional issues. The government believes restoring full ambassadorial representation will improve communication and cooperation with foreign partners.
The renewed urgency to complete the appointments comes amid growing diplomatic tension following remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who made strong statements against Nigeria over alleged killings of Christians. Some government insiders believe that having ambassadors in place would improve diplomatic engagement and crisis management.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, is expected to meet with President Tinubu at the State House to finalise the list and discuss other foreign service matters. An official announcement is expected soon after the meeting.
The delay in appointments had also been linked to financial challenges. Earlier reports indicated that the Federal Government required over $1 billion to address pending allowances, replace old vehicles, renovate embassies, and cover operational costs for the new envoys.
President Tinubu had previously stated that balancing political and professional considerations in such appointments was a complex process, adding that he intended to ensure fair representation across regions.
With the cleanup now nearing completion, the Federal Government is preparing to release the final list of ambassadors in the coming days, restoring Nigeria’s diplomatic presence after more than two years without substantive representatives in many countries.