President Bola Tinubu is set to finalize the long-awaited appointment of ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions around the world, following months of diplomatic gaps and increasing concern over the country’s absence of official envoys abroad.
According to multiple sources within the Presidency, the President has ordered a final review and cleanup of the ambassadorial nominees before their official release.
“It will be concluded very soon,” one senior official said, explaining that the cleanup became necessary because some individuals originally listed have either passed away, retired, or become ineligible for appointment.
Another source noted that while the Senate had already screened the nominees, the list required updating to ensure that only those still active and eligible were retained.
“The earlier list is outdated. Some of the nominees have died, taken new positions, or opted out due to ill health,” the source revealed. “The cleanup will ensure the final list reflects the current reality.”
This move comes more than two years after President Tinubu recalled all ambassadors from Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions in September 2023 as part of a comprehensive review of the nation’s diplomatic strategy. Since then, most embassies have been overseen by chargés d’affaires or senior consular officers who have limited authority to engage in high-level diplomacy.
“The absence of ambassadors has made it difficult for Nigeria to maintain full diplomatic engagement,” a senior foreign service official explained. “At a time like this, it’s important for ambassadors to be appointed to strengthen our representation globally.”
The renewed urgency to complete the appointments also follows recent diplomatic tension after former U.S. President Donald Trump made controversial comments about possible U.S. military intervention in Nigeria over alleged religious persecution.
However, a Presidency official clarified that the ambassadorial delay was not directly responsible for the tension but acknowledged that having ambassadors in place would have improved diplomatic communication with key partners.
“Foreign governments prefer to engage through ambassadors, especially in moments of crisis or negotiation,” the official added.
It was also gathered that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, is expected to meet with President Tinubu at the State House to discuss finalizing the list of nominees.
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“When the President is ready to make the appointments, the public will be informed through an official statement,” another senior source confirmed.
Earlier in April 2025, the Federal Government had reportedly completed the vetting and security clearance process for the ambassadors, but the appointments were delayed due to financial constraints.
Officials estimate that over $1 billion will be needed to settle outstanding arrears of foreign service officers, renovate embassies, replace old diplomatic vehicles, and cover operational costs.
President Tinubu has previously acknowledged the challenges of balancing political, regional, and professional interests in such key appointments, saying, “It’s not easy stitching those names together. Many people are eager for ambassadorial positions.”
