President Bola Tinubu is set to announce Nigeria’s new ambassadors to key foreign missions in the coming weeks, following a prolonged delay.
The appointments have been pending since September 2023, when Tinubu recalled all diplomats from 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates worldwide to review Nigeria’s foreign policy direction.
The delay has sparked concerns that Nigeria’s diplomatic presence has been weakened, particularly in crucial nations like the United States, amid controversy over alleged Christian genocide.
Moreover, senior officials at the presidency attributed the delay to complex political balancing and financial constraints, including a $1 billion funding gap to clear arrears, replace vehicles, and renovate embassy structures.
Veracity Desk understands that Tinubu had ordered a “final cleanup” of the list ahead of its official release.
Insider source 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 said.
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.
Earlier in the year, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar confirmed the financial strain, stressing that sending out ambassadors without adequate resources would be counterproductive.
