Tinubu moves to appoint new ambassadors amid US tension
President Bola Tinubu is set to conclude the long-awaited appointment of ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions following months of pressure over the country’s diplomatic void abroad.
Sources within the Presidency revealed that the President has ordered a final round of adjustments to the list of nominees ahead of its official release.
“It is going to be concluded very soon,” one senior official said, noting that a number of changes had become necessary since the list was initially forwarded to the Senate.
According to the source, several nominees on the earlier list are no longer suitable for deployment. Some have retired, others reportedly passed away, while a few now have less than a year left in public service — rendering them ineligible.
Although the Senate had completed screening months ago, the revised list was returned to the Presidency to ensure that only active and eligible candidates are included.
Another Presidency official disclosed that security clearance and background checks for the nominees had been completed earlier, but the updated list was required to reflect current realities. “The list first sent to the Senate is outdated. A few nominees have died, some took up new roles, and others declined due to health reasons,” the source explained.
He added that the verification process for newly added names would not be prolonged and could be wrapped up within a week.
The imminent appointments come more than two years after President Tinubu’s September 2023 directive recalling Nigeria’s envoys from 109 missions to allow for a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s foreign representation.
Since then, most missions have been overseen by chargés d’affaires or senior consular officials with limited authority. Diplomatic observers warn that this has weakened Nigeria’s presence and influence abroad.
“Foreign governments generally accord less respect to chargés d’affaires compared to ambassadors,” a senior Foreign Service officer noted. “Given the current diplomatic demands facing Nigeria, it is critical that substantive ambassadors are deployed.”
President Bola Tinubu is set to conclude the long-awaited appointment of ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions following months of pressure over the country’s diplomatic void abroad.
Sources within the Presidency revealed that the President has ordered a final round of adjustments to the list of nominees ahead of its official release. The insiders, who spoke off-record because they were not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed that the process is now in its concluding phase.
“It is going to be concluded very soon,” one senior official said, noting that a number of changes had become necessary since the list was initially forwarded to the Senate.
According to the source, several nominees on the earlier list are no longer suitable for deployment. Some have retired, others reportedly passed away, while a few now have less than a year left in public service — rendering them ineligible.
Although the Senate had completed screening months ago, the revised list was returned to the Presidency to ensure that only active and eligible candidates are included.
Another Presidency official disclosed that security clearance and background checks for the nominees had been completed earlier, but the updated list was required to reflect current realities. “The list first sent to the Senate is outdated. A few nominees have died, some took up new roles, and others declined due to health reasons,” the source explained.
He added that the verification process for newly added names would not be prolonged and could be wrapped up within a week.
The imminent appointments come more than two years after President Tinubu’s September 2023 directive recalling Nigeria’s envoys from 109 missions — including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates — to allow for a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s foreign representation.
Since then, most missions have been overseen by chargés d’affaires or senior consular officials with limited authority. Diplomatic observers warn that this has weakened Nigeria’s presence and influence abroad.
“Foreign governments generally accord less respect to chargés d’affaires compared to ambassadors,” a senior Foreign Service officer noted. “Given the current diplomatic demands facing Nigeria, it is critical that substantive ambassadors are deployed.”
