President Bola Tinubu has received the final, DSS-cleared list of ambassador-designates and is now poised to announce the appointments to fill Nigeria’s long-vacant diplomatic posts, according to multiple Presidency sources. The development comes as the Federal Government seeks to strengthen its foreign representation amidst rising security concerns and a contentious debate over the nature of violence in the country.
The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, had earlier confirmed that the President would “soon” appoint ambassadors, a move designed to enhance the nation’s ability to manage diplomatic complexities, including the recent controversy over claims of “Christian genocide” in Nigeria.
Presidency officials confirmed this week that all security and background checks on nominees have been completed, and the list is now with the President, awaiting his final nod for transmission to the Senate for screening.
“The list is ready. It’s ready. It is now with the President, and it’s up to him. All those security checks, they are done with,” a senior official stated.
However, the exact date for the announcement remains at the President’s discretion. Sources suggest the appointment will be staggered, with envoys to “major partner countries” announced first, and others following later. This strategy is reportedly due to the “humongous amount” of funds required to settle all ambassadors concurrently.
The imminent announcement will mark the end of an extended period of diplomatic vacancies, which began in September 2023 when President Tinubu recalled all ambassadors from the country’s 109 foreign missions for a “comprehensive diplomatic review.”
Key factors contributing to the delay include:
Funding Constraints: Officials previously cited a need for over $1 billion to settle accumulated arrears, renovate embassies, and cover operational overheads.
List Cleanup: The original list had to undergo a “final cleanup” to remove nominees who had retired, died, or become ineligible since the list was first screened by the Senate.
Political Considerations: The President previously acknowledged the complexity of “stitching those names” due to the need to balance political expectations with professional diplomatic interests.
The renewed urgency to formalize the appointments coincides with recent diplomatic tensions, particularly following threats of military action from President Donald Trump over alleged religious persecution. Officials, however, stressed the President does not want the move to appear as a “direct response” to the geopolitical pressure.
The appointment of substantive ambassadors is expected to empower Nigeria’s diplomatic efforts, allowing them to make binding commitments and better represent the country’s national strategy abroad at a critical juncture.
