President Bola Tinubu is expected to announce a new batch of ambassadors in the coming weeks, senior presidency officials have confirmed, signalling the end of a prolonged vacuum in Nigeria’s top diplomatic posts.
The development follows rising public concern that the absence of substantive envoys has weakened Nigeria’s representation abroad—especially in major countries such as the United States, where diplomatic engagement has been critical amid recent global controversies.
Two Years Without Ambassadors
In September 2023, President Tinubu recalled all heads of Nigeria’s 76 embassies, 22 high commissions and 11 consulates, initiating a comprehensive reassessment of the country’s foreign policy direction.
However, more than two years later, the process of appointing new envoys has experienced repeated delays, leaving missions to be run by chargés d’affaires and senior consular officers.
By April 2025, security and background checks on proposed nominees had been completed, but the President held back on releasing the list, citing political complexities.
“It’s not easy stitching those names,” Tinubu admitted last September while addressing a delegation at the State House.
Final Cleanup Underway
Multiple presidency insiders confirmed that the President recently ordered a final revision of the ambassadorial list. Some nominees reportedly died since the initial submission, while others became ineligible due to retirement or changing circumstances, prompting the Senate to return the list for updating.
According to one senior official, only envoys for key global capitals will be included in this first batch.
“The process is almost complete. The President will announce the appointments in the coming weeks. Only strategic missions will get ambassadors at this stage,” the source said.
Another top aide said the revised list should be ready before the end of November.
Funding Challenges Behind the Delay
A significant factor behind the slow pace of appointments is the financial burden associated with running Nigeria’s foreign missions. Government officials estimate that at least $1bn is required to clear arrears owed to foreign service staff, fund operations, replace ageing vehicles and renovate embassy buildings worldwide.
Earlier this year, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar confirmed that posting ambassadors without adequate funding would be counterproductive, warning that missions were already overstretched.
In response, the Federal Government allocated N2.1bn in the 2025 budget for ambassadorial postings and recall entitlements. An additional N53bn was proposed for the renovation of over 100 missions, covering chanceries, residences, staff quarters, office furniture and vehicles.
A document from the Office of the Accountant General revealed that $54m has so far been released in 2025 to support embassy operations, with the bulk—$46.14m—covering overheads.
Legislative Scrutiny Intensifies
With the year drawing to a close and no ambassadors in place, lawmakers have raised concerns over the use of budgeted funds. The House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs has summoned the foreign minister and heads of missions to account for expenditures made under the 2025 allocations.
The committee had earlier launched a probe into an alleged $2m contract scandal linked to renovation works at Nigeria’s Permanent Representative’s residence at the United Nations.
A Diplomatic Reset Imminent
As pressure mounts domestically and internationally, the forthcoming appointment of ambassadors is seen as a major test of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to rebuilding Nigeria’s diplomatic capacity. With foreign missions operating at minimal strength and key global issues demanding high-level engagement, the release of the new envoy list is expected to mark the beginning of a long-overdue diplomatic reset.