More than 63 of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s newly appointed ambassadors and high commissioners remain in limbo after several countries refused or delayed granting diplomatic approval (agrément), citing the short time left in the administration.
The President approved the deployment of 65 envoys on March 6, 2026, to fill positions across Nigeria’s 109 missions, many of which had been without substantive heads for over two years following a full recall in 2023. However, only the United Kingdom and France have so far granted approval.
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Countries are reportedly reluctant to accept ambassadors from governments with less than two years remaining in office. With the administration ending on May 29, 2027, many view the postings as too short-term.
India has signaled it will not approve Nigeria’s nominee, Ambassador Muhammad Dahiru, while Germany and Mexico are among nations said to be hesitant.
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Some prominent names affected include former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode and commentator Reno Omokri, whose postings remain uncertain pending foreign approval.
The delay follows a prolonged gap in Nigeria’s diplomatic representation, during which missions were run by lower-ranking officials, raising concerns about the country’s global engagement.
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As of now, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not issued an official statement, leaving dozens of envoys awaiting clarity on their postings.
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