27th November, 2025
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally submitted the names of three non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Nigerian Senate for screening and confirmation, marking the first concrete step toward filling diplomatic vacancies that have existed for over two years.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio disclosed the development during plenary on Wednesday, revealing that the nominees are Kayode Are from Ogun State, Aminu Dalhatu from Jigawa State, and Ayodele Oke from Oyo State.
“The list contains three names for now; I am sure others will follow,” Akpabio stated after reading the President’s correspondence to the upper legislative chamber.
The President noted that the nominations were made in accordance with section 171 (1), (2)(c) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, urging the Senate to expedite the confirmation process.
Akpabio subsequently referred the nominees to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Sani Bello, with a directive to review the submissions and report back within one week.
The submissions arrive more than 27 months after Tinubu recalled all ambassadors from Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions in September 2023, just four months into his administration. The recall affected 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates worldwide, with the government describing the move as part of a comprehensive diplomatic review.
Since the mass recall, Nigerian missions have been managed by chargés d’affaires and senior consular officers, who lack the full diplomatic authority recognized by host countries to engage in formal negotiations and high-level representation.
The protracted delay in appointing replacements has drawn widespread criticism, particularly as Nigeria pursues foreign investment, trade partnerships, and security cooperation. Concerns intensified recently following President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged persecution of Christians, a development some analysts linked to the absence of robust diplomatic leadership.
Speaking to members of The Buhari Organisation during a visit to the State House in September 2025, President Tinubu acknowledged the complexity of the appointment process, stating: “It’s not easy stitching those names. I couldn’t appoint everybody at once, and thank you for your patience.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar had earlier disclosed in April that a list of nominees had been with the President for over a year, attributing the delay to economic disruptions caused by fuel subsidy removal and naira floatation.
With Wednesday’s submission, stakeholders in Nigeria’s diplomatic community are hopeful that the remaining vacancies will be filled soon to restore the country’s full diplomatic presence globally.