President Bola Tinubu is finalizing the appointment of new ambassadors to fill vacancies in Nigeria’s foreign missions.
Officials say the move will strengthen diplomacy and improve coordination with global partners.
President Bola Tinubu is close to completing the appointment of new ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions after several months of vacancies that have raised diplomatic concerns, especially following recent tensions with the United States.
Presidency sources revealed that the President has ordered a “final cleanup” of the ambassadorial list to replace nominees who have passed away, retired, or withdrawn. The updated list will reportedly be released once final verification is completed.
The move comes two years after Tinubu recalled all ambassadors from Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions as part of a broad diplomatic reassessment. Since then, most embassies have been managed by chargés d’affaires or senior consular officers who have limited authority to represent the country in key international matters.
Officials say the new appointments will restore Nigeria’s presence in global diplomacy and improve coordination with foreign partners. This follows growing concerns after former U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning about possible military action in Nigeria over alleged attacks on Christians, which generated unease in Abuja.
A top government source noted that the absence of ambassadors has hindered Nigeria’s ability to respond to international issues promptly. “Having ambassadors in place will allow the country to engage more effectively, especially in times of tension,” the official said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar is scheduled to meet with President Tinubu at the State House to conclude work on the list, with an official announcement anticipated in the coming days.
