After Two Years of Waiting: What the Latest Ambassadorial Nominations Say About Nigeria’s Diplomatic Resolve
By Jerry Adesewo
When President Bola Tinubu recalled all of Nigeria’s ambassadors in September 2023, the message was clear: a wholesale diplomatic reset was beginning. Over 100 missions abroad — embassies, high commissions and consulates — were left under the temporary care of chargés d’affaires, while the government promised to restructure, vet and eventually re-appoint envoys. What followed, however, has been more than 24 months of uncertainty, delays, and heightened concern among foreign-policy experts about Nigeria’s shrinking voice on the global stage.
Now, after that long diplomatic vacuum, the announcement that Tinubu has nominated 32 ambassadors marks a turning point, but also raises urgent questions about what happens next.
Why the Delay Matters
Ambassadors are not ceremonial placeholders. They are the front-line agents of a nation’s diplomacy: negotiating bilateral treaties, promoting trade and investment, protecting citizens abroad, facilitating cultural exchanges, and representing national interests.
For nearly two years, many of Nigeria’s diplomatic missions have operated without accredited heads. As analysts warned, the absence of ambassadors has weakened Nigeria’s ability to influence foreign policy, attract investment, and shield its citizens abroad — especially at a time when global attention on Nigeria’s security, economy, and human rights record is growing.
Moreover, the diplomatic hiatus raised internal concerns about morale and the capacity of embassies to function effectively. Chargés d’affaires can only do so much; they lack both the symbolic and institutional authority that ambassadors enjoy.
The New Nominees: A First Sign of Catch-up
The list President Tinubu forwarded to the Nigerian Senate, which currently includes names such as Kayode Are (Ogun), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa), Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Reno Omokri (Delta), Barr. Ogbonaya Kalu (Abia), Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa), and Amb. Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue) — represents the first sizeable effort at re-staffing embassies since the recall, and to say the least, the list is already generating serious controversies, especially from the opposition.
Officials have framed this as part of a “final clean-up” of the ambassadorial list, noting that security and background clearances were completed months ago but were delayed by deaths, retirements, or newly emerged disqualifications among earlier nominees.
With 32 new ambassadors now nominated, the hope is that many key foreign missions will once again have substantive leadership — not just acting heads — and that Nigeria might reclaim some diplomatic traction.
But the Risk of Another Lull Remains
Nomination is not the same as deployment. The nominees still need Senate confirmation, diplomatic agreement from host countries, official warrants, and presentation of credentials before they can assume full duties.
Given past delays, many Nigerians will be observing. Will the Senate expedite confirmation? Will host countries accept the nominees promptly? Will the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provide the necessary support — funding, staff, infrastructure — for the embassies to operate effectively?
Critics warn that unless these follow-up steps are handled swiftly and transparently, this latest batch of appointments risks being just another band-aid over a deeper structural failure. Already, foreign-service insiders describe embassies suffering from neglect: infrastructure decay, arrears of staff allowances, and overstretched consular services.
What This Means for Nigeria’s Global Posture
- Reclaiming Influence — If Followed Through
A fully staffed network of ambassadors is Nigeria’s ticket back into influential multilateral and bilateral negotiations. At a time when global alliances, trade blocs, security cooperation, and foreign investment are in flux — especially in Africa — having credible envoys abroad matters.
- Restoring Diplomatic Continuity
Diplomacy thrives on relationships built over time. Long gaps at the ambassadorial level disrupt continuity, stall agreements, and erode trust. If Nigeria now proceeds to fill the vacancies properly, it can begin rebuilding those connections before the window closes.
- Signalling Stability to Investors and Partners
Foreign investors, international organisations, and diaspora Nigerians all watch ambassadorial movements closely. A resumed ambassadorial appointments process signals that Nigeria is seeking to re-engage with the world in a serious, stable manner.
- Domestic Confidence in Governance
Diplomacy isn’t just about foreign capitals; it’s also about how a country sees itself. For Nigerians abroad — students, skilled professionals, traders — having credible representation makes an existential difference in times of crisis.
A Final Word: Why the Wait Should Be a Lesson
The two-year ambassadorial vacuum underlines a recurring pathology in Nigeria: the tendency to announce major reforms or resets, but to delay or falter in follow-through. The recall of all ambassadors in 2023 might have made sense as a diplomatic audit. But the long aftermath — with ministries, embassies, and foreign missions left rudderless — inflicted real damage on the nation’s diplomatic overtures and a huge task on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Now, the nomination of 32 new ambassadors presents an opportunity to redeem that lapse. But redemption depends not only on the names on a list, but on speed, competence, funding, and accountability.
If Nigeria and its leaders treat this latest moment as a genuine generational reset — not just a political gesture — then global partners may once again take Abuja seriously. If not, this batch of nominations may end up as another unfulfilled promise in the renewed hope agenda.