Tinubu to Appoint Ambassadors Soon, Says Presidency
The Presidency has confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will soon announce a new list of ambassadorial appointments to fill vacancies across Nigeria’s foreign missions, many of which have lacked substantive leadership for over a year.
This assurance comes amid growing pressure from diplomats, international partners, and governance experts who have repeatedly urged the President to restore full diplomatic representation abroad.
In September 2023, President Tinubu ordered the recall of all ambassadors from Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates as part of what the government described as a “comprehensive diplomatic review.” Since then, most missions have been overseen by chargés d’affaires or senior consular officers, who have limited mandate and authority in formal diplomatic engagements.
The absence of substantive ambassadors has reportedly affected Nigeria’s global diplomacy, with some foreign governments allegedly giving less regard to chargé-level officials.
Analysts have suggested that the prolonged leadership gap may have contributed to diplomatic friction in certain bilateral relationships, including recent tensions involving the United States following former President Donald Trump’s comments alleging persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
Responding to inquiries from Vanguard on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed that appointments were imminent.
Asked to provide a timeline, Onanuga said: “He is going to do it very, very soon.”
A presidency source familiar with the process further disclosed that the long-awaited list of ambassadorial nominees is likely to be released within the week, signalling a potential end to the extended diplomatic vacuum.
Observers say the appointment of ambassadors is crucial for enhancing Nigeria’s international representation, restoring protocol parity, strengthening foreign investment negotiations, and addressing emerging global challenges.
