By Abiola Olawale
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is reportedly set to conclude the long-awaited appointments of Nigeria’s new ambassadors.
Reports emerging on Tuesday have revealed that the President has reportedly directed security agencies to accelerate the vetting process of all nominees.
The development comes amid ongoing tension with the United States government over the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern due to alleged Christian genocide.
This reported move also signals an imminent end to the prolonged diplomatic gap across Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions, which have been without substantive heads since the mass recall in September 2023.
According to Presidency officials quoted by media reports, Tinubu has specifically instructed relevant security and intelligence agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), to expedite their final security and background checks.
“It is going to be concluded very soon,” one senior official was quoted as saying.
The official explained, “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.”
He added that the Senate had already screened the nominees, noting that the cleanup was to ensure that no one due for retirement remained on the list.
“The list of those screened has left the Senate long ago; it has been returned to the President,” the source said.
Another source confirmed that security and background clearances were completed months ago. However, a revision became necessary after several nominees passed away, took new appointments, or opted out due to ill health.
“The earlier list sent to the Senate is outdated. Some of the nominees have died, while others are no longer qualified,” the official said.
“The cleanup will ensure that the final list reflects those still available and eligible. The process can be completed in a week; it doesn’t take long to reverify new names.”
The development comes more than two years after Tinubu’s September 2023 decision to recall all ambassadors from Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions — comprising 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates — as part of a “comprehensive diplomatic review.”
Since then, most missions have been headed by chargés d’affaires or senior consular officers with limited authority to represent Nigeria in formal negotiations.
