Year: 2025

President Bola Tinubu is reportedly preparing to finalize the long-pending appointment of ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions, following months of diplomatic inactivity and pressure over the country’s lack of official representation abroad. Presidency insiders revealed that the President has directed a “final cleanup” of the ambassadorial list, which had earlier been sent to the Senate but required revisions due to deaths, retirements, and withdrawals among nominees. “It will be concluded very soon,” a senior official confirmed, explaining that some of the initial nominees were no longer eligible. “Since the list was first sent, a few have passed away, retired, or have less than a year left in service, so the cleanup is just to ensure the final list is up to date.” According to the sources, the Senate has already completed its screening of nominees and returned the list to the Presidency. Another official noted that background and security checks were finalized months ago, but the review became necessary after some nominees either took up new positions or opted out for health reasons. “The earlier list is now outdated. The cleanup is to confirm those still qualified and available. Once the President approves it, the process can be completed within a week,” the source said. The move comes more than two years after President Tinubu recalled all Nigerian ambassadors from 109 foreign missions in September 2023—including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates—as part of a comprehensive diplomatic review. Since then, most of the missions have been run by chargés d’affaires and senior consular officers with limited authority. A senior Foreign Service official said this has weakened Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement. “Foreign governments don’t give the same recognition to chargés d’affaires as they do to ambassadors. At this stage, Nigeria urgently needs full ambassadors in place,” the source stated. The renewed effort to complete the ambassadorial appointments comes amid growing diplomatic tension following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks labeling Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” and threatening military action over alleged attacks on Christians. While Presidency officials downplayed suggestions that the absence of ambassadors caused the tension, they acknowledged that the lack of top-level representation abroad made communication more difficult. “The presence of ambassadors could have made diplomatic dialogue smoother,” one official said. Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar is expected to meet President Tinubu today (Tuesday) at the State House in Abuja to discuss the matter, with insiders hinting that the meeting could lead to the finalization of the list. “When the President is ready to make the announcement, it will be made public. The Presidency will release an official statement soon,” another official confirmed. In April 2025, The PUNCH reported that the Federal Government had completed vetting and security clearance for the ambassadorial nominees, but the appointments were delayed by financial constraints. Over $1 billion is reportedly needed to settle outstanding allowances, renovate embassies, replace diplomatic vehicles, and cover mission operations. President Tinubu had earlier admitted that political balancing and professional merit were key challenges in finalizing the appointments. “It’s not easy stitching those names,” he said during a meeting with members of The Buhari Organisation in September. “I couldn’t appoint everyone at once. I still have some ambassadorial positions that many people are waiting for.”