Uncertainty surrounds many of President Bola Tinubu’s newly nominated ambassadors, as several host countries may be reluctant to accept them over concerns about the short length of their prospective tenure.
Senior Presidency and foreign service officials disclosed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is facing difficulties securing agrément for some nominees, with certain countries insisting that ambassadors must have at least one to two years remaining in the tenure of the appointing administration. With Nigeria’s next presidential election due in February 2027 and Tinubu’s first term ending in May that year, host countries may be unwilling to accredit envoys who could serve for only a few months.
A senior foreign service official said countries such as India often tie ambassadorial tenure to the lifespan of the sending government. “By the time agrément is granted, some ambassadors may have only a few months left. That is the challenge we are trying to manage,” the official said.
Nigeria has been without substantive ambassadors since September 2023, when Tinubu recalled envoys from 109 missions worldwide as part of a foreign policy review. Although the recall occurred more than two years ago, ambassadorial nominations were only forwarded to the Senate in November 2025, with at least 67 nominees submitted so far.
Officials warn that the late nominations, lengthy confirmation process, mandatory retreats, and slow background checks by host countries could delay deployment until mid-2026, leaving some ambassadors with less than a year in office. While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working to fast-track the process, critics caution that the prolonged vacuum risks weakening Nigeria’s diplomatic presence abroad.