President Bola Tinubu is set to appoint ambassadors in the coming weeks after prolonged delays that weakened Nigeria’s diplomatic representation across major foreign missions.
Nigeria is set to name new ambassadors in the coming weeks as President Bola Tinubu finalises the long-delayed appointment process, according to a report from Sunday PUNCH.
The move follows rising public concern over the absence of substantive envoys in major foreign missions, a gap critics say has undermined the country’s diplomatic influence—particularly in key nations like the United States amid ongoing controversies.
Tinubu recalled all ambassadors in September 2023 to reassess foreign policy, but more than two years later, new appointments have yet to be made.
Presidency officials told Sunday PUNCH that the President had ordered a “final cleanup” of the envoy list after the Senate returned it due to deaths, retirements, and updated eligibility issues affecting some nominees. One senior source said the vetting process was nearly complete, noting that “only ambassadors to major countries will be appointed.” Another confirmed the list would be released before the end of November.
The delay has been linked partly to funding shortages. According to The PUNCH, over $1bn is required to clear arrears, replace ageing diplomatic vehicles, and renovate embassy structures. The 2025 budget earmarks N2.1bn for ambassadorial postings and N53bn for renovations across 103 missions. A July 2025 letter from the Office of the Accountant General showed $54m had already been disbursed to support foreign missions.
However, lawmakers have questioned how these funds are being utilised without appointed envoys. In October, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs summoned Minister Yusuf Tuggar and mission heads to account for 2025 allocations, invoking Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution.
The committee is also probing a $2m contract scandal tied to renovations at Nigeria’s UN residence in New York.