ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu is moving to finalise a long-delayed list of ambassadorial appointments, two years after recalling Nigeria’s envoys from missions worldwide, senior government officials said, amid rising diplomatic pressure and concerns over weakened foreign representation.
Multiple Presidency sources, who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the press, confirmed that Tinubu has ordered a “final cleanup” of the list to remove nominees who have either retired, died, or taken up other roles since the screening process began.
“It is going to be concluded very soon,” one senior official said.
“They are just cleaning it up now because since the time the President sent it to the Senate, some people on that list have died, and some have retired and are no longer eligible for appointment. Some of them have less than one year left in service.”
Another official added that vetting and security checks had been completed months ago.
However, revisions became necessary after several nominees “passed away, took new appointments, or opted out due to ill health.”
The official noted that a fresh verification could be completed within a week, saying, “The cleanup will ensure that the final list reflects those still available and eligible.”
The Senate previously screened the nominees, but the list was returned to the Presidency for final clearance.
Tinubu recalled all ambassadors in September 2023 as part of what the Presidency described at the time as a “comprehensive diplomatic review.”
Since then, Nigeria’s 109 missions — including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates — have largely been run by chargés d’affaires and senior officers with limited authority.
“The truth is that most foreign governments do not give the same regard to chargés d’affaires as they do to ambassadors,” a senior Foreign Service official said.
“At a time like this, with many diplomatic demands, it is crucial that ambassadors be appointed.”
The urgency intensified following comments by former United States President Donald Trump, who last week threatened military action against Nigeria over allegations of Christian persecution and warned that Washington might “go into that disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to wipe out the Islamic terrorists.”
A Presidency official acknowledged the heightened diplomatic climate but argued the ambassadorial vacancy was not the cause of current tensions.
“That’s not to say the lack of ambassadors caused the recent issues with the United States, but their presence could have made communication smoother,” the official said.
“Foreign partners prefer to engage at the ambassadorial level, especially in moments of crisis.”
Officials also noted that the appointments had been delayed partly by financial constraints.
Earlier this year, the government assessed that over $1bn would be needed to clear arrears, refurbish missions, replace vehicles, and improve operations abroad.
Tinubu previously acknowledged the difficulty of balancing political and career service interests in diplomatic postings.
“It’s not easy stitching those names,” he told visiting political allies in September.
“I still have some slots for ambassadorial positions that so many people are craving for.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar is expected to meet the President in Abuja on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, with officials suggesting the final list could be on the agenda.
“When the President is ready to make that appointment, it will be made public,” another official said.
“The Presidency will release an official statement very soon.”
