President Bola Tinubu is reportedly preparing to transmit a fresh list of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, over two years after recalling all Nigerian envoys abroad.
Sources within the Presidency told The PUNCH that all security and background checks on the nominees have been completed, and the decision to send the list rests with the President.
According to insiders, the appointments will be staggered, with envoys to major partner countries announced first, followed by postings to other missions. “The list is ready, but not all ambassadors will be announced at once. Priority will be given to countries critical to Nigeria’s economic, security, and diplomatic interests,” said a senior official.
Key postings are expected to include the United States, United Kingdom, European Union nations such as France and Germany, China, India, and ECOWAS capitals including Accra, Niamey, and Cotonou. These countries are pivotal for trade, counter-terrorism cooperation, and regional stability. Nigeria’s missions in these locations have been largely managed by chargés d’affaires or senior consular officers, who cannot make binding diplomatic commitments.
The current development follows Tinubu’s September 2023 recall of 109 ambassadors covering 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates, as part of a “comprehensive diplomatic review.” Since then, Nigeria’s foreign missions have operated with limited representation, affecting negotiations and international influence.
Sources said the staggered appointments are partly due to funding constraints, as settling ambassadors, renovating missions, and covering operational costs require substantial resources. Officials previously estimated over $1 billion would be needed to cover these expenses, including arrears owed to foreign service officers and replacement of aging diplomatic vehicles.
The timing of the appointments comes amid rising international pressure. Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently threatened Nigeria with aid suspension and potential military action over attacks on Christians, designating the country as a “Country of Particular Concern.” Presidency sources, however, stressed that the ambassadorial appointments were planned independently of these threats.
The original ambassadorial list has also been revised to remove nominees who had retired, passed away, or accepted other positions, as well as career officers nearing the end of service. Tinubu had earlier acknowledged the difficulty of balancing political and professional interests in the selection process, telling visitors in September 2025, “I couldn’t appoint everybody at once… I still have some slots for ambassadorial positions that many people are vying for.”
With security vetting now completed, officials say Nigeria is set to restore full diplomatic representation, ending a two-year period in which its missions were led primarily by acting officials. Observers note that the appointments will enhance Nigeria’s ability to engage globally and assert its interests on economic, security, and political fronts.
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