President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to conclude the long-awaited appointment of ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions after months of diplomatic gaps and pressure over the absence of envoys abroad.
According to multiple Presidency sources, Tinubu has ordered a “final cleanup” of the ambassadorial list ahead of its release. The officials, who spoke anonymously, said the list required updates as some nominees had either died, retired, or become ineligible since it was initially sent to the Senate.
“It will be concluded very soon,” a senior official confirmed. “The cleanup is to ensure that those who have retired or are no longer qualified are removed.”
Another source disclosed that while security and background checks were completed months ago, the revision became necessary following changes in the nominees’ status. “The earlier list is outdated. Some nominees passed away or took other appointments, so the final verification will ensure accuracy,” the source added, noting that the process could be completed within a week.
This development comes more than two years after Tinubu’s September 2023 directive recalling 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, most missions have been led by chargés d’affaires or senior consular officers with limited authority to represent Nigeria in major diplomatic engagements. A senior foreign service official explained that “foreign governments do not give the same level of recognition to chargés d’affaires as they do to ambassadors,” emphasizing the urgency of new appointments amid growing diplomatic activity.
The renewed push comes amid heightened U.S.–Nigeria tension, following comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently threatened military action over alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria. Trump, in several posts on his social media platform, labelled Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” claimed to have instructed congressional Republicans to investigate the issue, and even alleged he had directed the U.S. Department of War to “prepare for possible action.”
He warned that if the Nigerian Government “continues to allow the killing of Christians,” the U.S. would halt all aid and might intervene militarily.
Responding to the situation, a Presidency official clarified that while the current diplomatic tension was not caused by the lack of ambassadors, their presence could have improved communication and engagement with foreign partners. “In moments of crisis or negotiation, countries prefer to engage at the ambassadorial level,” the source noted.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, is expected to meet President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja to discuss, among other issues, the finalisation of the ambassadorial list.
Another Presidency official confirmed that an official announcement would be made once the President approves the list.
Earlier in April 2025, reports indicated that vetting and security clearances had been completed but the process stalled due to funding shortages, with over $1 billion needed to settle arrears, renovate embassies, and cover operational expenses.
President Tinubu had previously acknowledged the challenge of balancing political and professional interests in the appointments, saying during a September 2025 meeting with members of The Buhari Organisation, led by Senator Tanko Al-Makura, that, “It’s not easy stitching those names… I still have some slots for ambassadorial positions that many people are craving for.”
ADEOLA KUNLE
No comments:
Post a Comment