President Bola Tinubu is preparing to finalise the appointment of new ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions after a prolonged diplomatic hiatus, officials say.
They revealed that the nominee list is now undergoing a “final review” following the discovery that several earlier nominees had died, retired, or had less than one year’s service remaining.
Although the original list had already been screened by the Senate, it was returned to the presidency for revision. “They are just cleaning it up now because some of the nominees have died, and some are no longer qualified,” one senior official told reporters.
The delay in filling these posts stems from Tinubu’s September 2023 directive to recall all ambassadors from Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates as part of a comprehensive diplomatic review. Since then, many missions have been led by chargés d’affaires, which foreign service insiders say undermines Nigeria’s ability to engage effectively on the global stage.
Observers say the renewed push comes amid escalating diplomatic tension with the United States. The pressure follows remarks by former U S President Donald Trump threatening possible military intervention over alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria, a move the government says underscores the need for full diplomatic representation.
Foreign affairs experts say ambassador level representation is particularly important now, as Nigeria navigates complex global challenges and seeks to assert its voice in key negotiations. One senior diplomat noted “Most foreign governments do not give the same regard to chargés d’affaires as they do to ambassadors.”
Presidential aides expect that once Tinubu formally approves the revised list of nominees, an official announcement will follow soon. The appointments are widely seen as not just filling vacancies but signalling Nigeria’s intent to re engage fully on the diplomatic front.