Nigeria is poised to end a diplomatic stand-still as Bola Tinubu prepares to appoint envoys to over 100 foreign missions—more than 18 months after recalling all ambassadors from Nigeria’s representative posts worldwide.

The Final Stage of Appointments

Sources inside the Presidency say the list of nominees has undergone a “final cleanup” ahead of an imminent public release. One senior official revealed:

“They are just cleaning it up now … some people on that list have died, and some have retired and are no longer eligible for appointment.”
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Another source confirmed that although security and background clearances were completed months ago, the original list required revision as several appointees became ineligible.

In September 2023, President Tinubu recalled career and non-career ambassadors from Nigeria’s 109 overseas missions—76 embassies, 22 high commissions and 11 consulates—initiating a sweeping “comprehensive diplomatic review.”
Since the recall, Nigeria has operated without fully accredited ambassadors, relying instead on chargés d’affaires and senior consular officers who critics say lack sufficient authority in major foreign-relations forums.

Funding constraints have also been cited as a key reason for the delay. In March 2025, it emerged that more than $1 billion was required to settle arrears, overhaul mission infrastructure and fund foreign service operations.

The High Stakes

Foreign-service professionals warn that the diplomatic vacuum undermines Nigeria’s global standing. As one source put it:

“Most foreign governments do not give the same regard to chargés d’affaires as they do to ambassadors.”
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Recent international tensions—including an alleged threat by former U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene militarily—have reignited calls for a full diplomatic corp. While officials say the absence of envoys did not directly cause the crisis, the timing of the ambassadorial appointments has become urgent.