Tinubu’s New Ambassadors Final List
President Bola Tinubu is currently reviewing the final list of prospective Nigerian ambassadors to various countries and international organizations, according to reliable sources.
The process, however, has faced delays due to financial challenges, with nearly $1 billion needed to address issues such as unpaid allowances for foreign service staff, the renovation of embassies, and the replacement of outdated vehicles.
An anonymous official disclosed, “Baba [President Tinubu] has activated the process of appointing envoys. The final list is now with him in Lagos, where it will undergo further scrutiny and security checks before being submitted to the Senate for screening.”
Initially, the list was expected to reach the National Assembly by December, but indications suggest the timeline may extend into January.
The delay comes after Tinubu recalled 83 career and non-career ambassadors in September 2023 as part of a reassessment of Nigeria’s foreign policy. With 109 missions, including embassies, high commissions, and consulates, the absence of new ambassadors has raised concerns about Nigeria’s global representation.
Foreign policy experts warn that the prolonged gap could harm Nigeria’s international reputation. “Host governments may begin to question why Nigeria has not replaced its envoys, seeing it as a sign of instability,” an expert said.
Financial constraints remain a significant obstacle, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, attributing the delay to inadequate funding. “There is no point sending out ambassadors if we lack the resources for their travel and for the effective running of missions abroad,” Tuggar said during a briefing earlier in the year.
Another senior official explained, “Most embassies are rundown. Vehicles are outdated, and some missions don’t even have running water or electricity. Sending ambassadors into such conditions would only compound their challenges.”
Meanwhile, President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, emphasized the need for a thorough vetting process before the final list is approved. “The ambassadorial list has two components: career ambassadors and political appointees. Both require rigorous review,” he said.
