BREAKING: Tinubu Finally Appoints Ambassadors, Transmits Initial List to Senate for Confirmation

By Emmanuel Kwada 

In a long-awaited move that ends over two years of diplomatic limbo, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted a list of ambassadorial nominees to the Nigerian Senate for confirmation, signaling a major step toward restoring Nigeria’s full diplomatic presence abroad.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the development during Wednesday’s plenary session, reading a letter from the President that included three non-career nominees for ambassadorial positions. The initial batch comprises: Kayode Are  from Ogun State, Aminu Dalhatu from Jigawa State and Ayodele Oke

“The list contains three names for now; I am sure others will follow,” Akpabio stated, underscoring that this is the first tranche of what is expected to be a staggered release of envoys to Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions worldwide.

The announcement comes more than two years after Tinubu’s September 2023 recall of all existing ambassadors—covering 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates—as part of a “comprehensive diplomatic review” aimed at aligning foreign policy with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Since then, Nigeria’s missions have been led by chargés d’affaires, limiting formal negotiations and high-level engagements with global partners.

Presidency sources, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the delay was due to rigorous security vetting by the Department of State Services (DSS), budget constraints, and the need to balance political representation across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones with merit-based selections.

“All background checks have been completed, and the list has been cleaned up to remove ineligible nominees, including those who passed away or retired,” one official told reporters. Initial focus will be on “major partner countries” due to the high costs of diplomatic postings.

The timing of the release aligns with heightened diplomatic pressures, including recent tensions with the United States over security concerns and trade negotiations. Analysts suggest the appointments could strengthen Nigeria’s leverage in international forums, particularly amid global economic challenges.

Opposition voices, including the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have criticized the prolonged vacancy as a “diplomatic embarrassment” that has weakened Nigeria’s global standing. However, supporters hail the move as evidence of Tinubu’s commitment to strategic governance.

The Senate is expected to begin screening the nominees imminently, with full confirmations potentially leading to postings within weeks. Further lists are anticipated soon, potentially including career diplomats for additional missions.

This development coincides with another Tinubu announcement earlier this week: the appointment of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as the “Renewed Hope Ambassador,” a domestic role focused on grassroots mobilization for the administration’s Ward Development Programme.

Uzodimma, who also chairs the Progressive Governors Forum, will collaborate with All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders to promote government achievements nationwide.

As Nigeria navigates economic reforms and security threats, these appointments mark a pivotal moment in reasserting the country’s influence on the world stage.

Updates will follow as the Senate proceeds with confirmations.