Tag: Ambassadors

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted a new batch of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, just days after sending an initial three nominees. The development was announced on Saturday by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga. According to Onanuga, Tinubu wrote two separate letters to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, requesting expedited confirmation of 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees. Four women feature among the career nominees, while six women are included in the non-career list. The non-career nominees include Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu from Abia, former presidential aide Reno Omokri of Delta, former INEC chairman Mahmud Yakubu, former Ekiti First Lady Erelu Angela Adebayo, and former Enugu governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Other names include former Katsina House of Assembly Speaker Tasiu Musa Maigari, ex-Plateau commissioner and former UBEC deputy executive secretary Yakubu N. Gambo, Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, Otunba Femi Pedro, former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode, and Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu. The list also features former Oyo First Lady Fatima Florence Ajimobi, former Lagos commissioner Lola Akande, ex-Adamawa senator Grace Bent, former Abia governor Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim of Ondo, and former Nigerian ambassador to the Holy See, Paul Oga Adikwu from Benue. Career ambassador and high commissioner nominees include Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia), Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba), Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa), Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi), Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa), Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi), Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun), Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo), Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah (Edo), Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger), Ambassador Shehu Barde (Katsina), Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna), Ambassador Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara), and Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun). Onanuga stated that once confirmed, the nominees will be posted to countries where Nigeria maintains strategic relations, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, UAE, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya, as well as to multilateral missions like the UN, UNESCO, and the African Union. Last week, Tinubu had sent three ambassadorial nominees—Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun)—for screening, who are expected to be posted to the UK, USA, or France. Tinubu confirmed that more ambassadorial appointments will be announced in the near future.

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.”