Tinubu set to appoint new ambassadors after 18 months of diplomatic vacancies

President Bola Tinubu is finally taking steps to fill Nigeria’s diplomatic leadership positions after operating without ambassadors for a year and a half.

According to a credible source in the Presidential Villa, the government has completed the screening of potential candidates to head Nigeria’s over 100 diplomatic missions worldwide. A senior official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that the appointments are expected “very soon.”

This move follows Tinubu’s decision in September 2023 to recall all Nigerian ambassadors shortly after taking office.

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“The issue is being resolved,” the source said, indicating that the long diplomatic vacuum may be coming to an end very soon.

“Nigeria’s security services have conducted background checks on potential appointees and have shared their findings with relevant agencies in the presidency and legislature”, according to an intelligence official.

The foreign affairs ministry has previously blamed financial constraints for the delay in naming new diplomats.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation has budgeted N302.4 billion this year to operate its foreign missions.

A former Nigerian ambassador who served in Africa and the United States noted that since taking office in May 2023, President Tinubu has focused primarily on addressing Nigeria’s struggling economy, with foreign policy taking a second priority.

The former ambassador, who requested anonymity, said government officials had informed him that several foreign leaders had raised concerns about Nigeria’s lack of ambassadors during discussions with President Tinubu. According to this source, the president has assured these leaders that appointments will be made soon.

Another official who asked to remain anonymous as he was not authorised to speak to the press confirmed that the appointment was imminent.

“Ambassadorial appointments require approval from the National Assembly. So, the list will be submitted to the Senate President, who will then announce it. But it has not been submitted yet. Yes, I can confirm that but it will be submitted shortly.

In April 2024, the government appointed 12 consuls-general and five chargés d’affaires to represent Nigeria in 14 countries, but these interim measures fell short of filling the leadership vacuum in key missions.

Consuls-general and chargés d’affaires can perform routine administrative duties and oversee the operations of an embassy. They, however, lack the diplomatic weight to engage at the highest levels, such as with heads of state or critical international negotiations.

This newspaper learnt that a founder of a tier-one bank, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State and the Speaker of a House of Assembly in the North were considered for the ambassadorial roles.