Sunday November 16, 2025
www.thenewsdesk.ng
President Bola Tinubu is expected to name Nigeria’s new envoys to key foreign missions in the coming weeks, according to senior presidency officials familiar with the process.
The development follows persistent public criticism over the prolonged absence of substantive ambassadors, which many say has weakened Nigeria’s diplomatic footprint — particularly in crucial nations such as the United States amid the alleged Christian genocide controversy.
Tinubu had in September 2023 ordered the recall of all diplomats from 76 embassies, 22 high commissions and 11 consulates worldwide to enable a major review of Nigeria’s foreign policy direction. But more than two years into his administration, the process of replacing them has faced repeated delays.
Since then, chargé d’affaires and senior consular officers have held the fort at various missions.
In April 2025, sources close to the President told our correspondent that government agencies had completed vetting the individuals nominated for ambassadorial roles, including security and background checks. Tinubu previously attributed the slow pace to the complex political balancing required for such appointments.
“I couldn’t appoint everybody at once and thank you for your patience. I still have some slots for ambassadorial positions that so many people are craving for. But it’s not easy stitching those names,” he said in September when he hosted members of The Buhari Organisation at the Presidential Villa.
Last week, multiple officials disclosed that Tinubu had ordered a “final cleanup” of the list ahead of its release. One of them said several nominees had since died or reached mandatory retirement age, forcing the Senate to return the screening list to the presidency.
Top aides involved in the process confirmed in separate interviews that the review was nearing completion and that the initial appointments would focus on major global missions.
“The final process is almost completed. The President is committed to making the appointments, and the announcement will come in the next few weeks. I wouldn’t want to specify two. However, only ambassadors to major countries will be appointed,” one source noted.
Another senior official said the list would be unveiled before the end of November but declined to give a precise date.
“The President has said they should clean up the list. I’m sure before the end of the month, it should be ready. There’s no point speculating. When it is ready, it will be officially announced,” the source added.