President Bola Tinubu is set to appoint new ambassadors to head Nigeria’s foreign missions, following months of vacancies and rising diplomatic concerns, particularly after recent tensions between Nigeria and the United States.
Presidency sources confirmed that the President has ordered a “final cleanup” of the ambassadorial list to replace nominees who had died, retired, or withdrawn from consideration. The updated list is expected to be made public soon after the final round of verification.
This move is coming nearly two years after President Tinubu recalled all ambassadors from Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions in what was described as a comprehensive diplomatic review.
Since then, most embassies had been led by chargés d’affaires or senior consular officers with limited authority to represent Nigeria in high-level diplomatic engagements.
Officials believe the forthcoming ambassadorial appointments will restore Nigeria’s diplomatic visibility and strengthen relations with international partners, especially amid the recent friction with the U.S.
The tension followed remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who had suggested possible military action in Nigeria over alleged attacks on Christians, comments that drew concern in the Federal Capital Territory and beyond.
According to government insiders, the absence of substantive ambassadors has hindered Nigeria’s ability to respond swiftly to global developments and manage sensitive diplomatic issues.
“Having ambassadors in place will enhance Nigeria’s engagement capacity, particularly during periods of tension,” one official noted.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, is scheduled to meet President Tinubu at the State House to finalize the ambassadorial list. An official announcement of the new appointments is expected in the coming days.
