President Bola Tinubu is preparing to submit the names of ambassadors-designate to the Senate for screening and confirmation following his recent state visits to France and South Africa.
According to state house sources who confided in OBSERVERSTIMES the Nigerian leader departed Abuja on Wednesday for a three-day visit to France at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron, before heading to South Africa for another state visit.
The forthcoming list of nominees will fill key ambassadorial and high commissioner roles for Nigeria in various countries and multilateral organizations. It is anticipated that this list will be submitted to the Senate in early December.
This development follows a significant diplomatic gap, as 83 ambassadors were recalled in September 2023, leaving Nigeria with 109 missions worldwide, including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates.
Government officials indicated that the delay in appointing new ambassadors stemmed from a comprehensive vetting process, which involved compiling and forwarding the names of prospective career diplomats to the President for consideration.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar confirmed that the ministry has completed this process. “We have collated everything on our part and forwarded it to Mr. President,” Tuggar stated earlier this year.
While it remains unclear whether the nominees will be political appointees or career diplomats, early indications suggest that the majority will be career diplomats, who are selected based on their experience within the Foreign Service.
A government official recently noted that the appointment process is imminent. “Ambassadorial appointments require approval from the National Assembly. 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,” the official said.
Once submitted, the Senate will screen the appointees, after which the President will notify the respective host countries. These countries will then conduct background checks on the nominees before final acceptance.
Sources have revealed that among those considered for appointment are a senior official from the President’s media team, a founder of a leading bank, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, and the Speaker of a House of Assembly in the North.
The prolonged delay in appointing new ambassadors has raised concerns, as many decisions remain pending due to the lack of representation at crucial diplomatic missions.
“It has been a long time coming. Many decisions are on hold because our missions and embassies are still awaiting new diplomats. Major meetings are occurring globally without our participation,” a government official commented. “The President cannot be everywhere at once, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs cannot handle everything alone.”
In a previous statement, the Foreign Affairs Minister highlighted financial constraints as a primary reason for the delay in ambassadorial appointments, a sentiment echoed by Eche Abu-Ode, former spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who noted that new appointments are contingent on budget allocations.