President Bola Tinubu has sent three names to the Senate for approval as Nigeria’s new ambassadors.
The announcement was made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Wednesday’s plenary session.
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The nominees are:
- Kayode Are from Ogun State
- Aminu Dalhatu from Jigawa State
- Ayodele Oke
After reading President Tinubu’s letter, Akpabio said, “The list contains three names for now, I am sure others will follow.”
Since Tinubu became president in 2023, he had not appointed any ambassadors. Many critics have complained about this delay.
Some people even blamed Nigeria’s blacklisting by former U.S. President Donald Trump—who called Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern”—on the lack of ambassadors.
In an interview in September, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, said there was no problem with the delay. He explained that Nigerian embassies were still working normally.
He said, “All our embassies are functioning well. The chargé d’affaires in each mission is carrying out responsibilities effectively. The absence of ambassadors has not created a vacuum.”
He added that although an ambassador leads the mission, there are other officials such as deputies, counsellors, and career diplomats who manage day-to-day activities.
According to him, “Diplomacy is not a one-man show. The system is designed to cope with such situations.”
Tuggar also said that only the president has the power to appoint ambassadors and that he would do so at the right time.
He explained, “Mr President is considering the matter, and when the time is right, names will be announced. Meanwhile, our missions are not idle.”
The minister said Nigeria’s foreign policy goals were still being pursued, with embassies helping with trade, investment, consular services, and cultural exchanges.
He added, “Nigerians abroad are still accessing services, and our engagement with host countries has not diminished.”
Tuggar argued that some countries also go for long periods without ambassadors, and it doesn’t weaken their diplomatic relations.
He said, “This is not peculiar to Nigeria. Diplomacy provides for such scenarios. What matters is substance, not optics.”
He concluded that Nigeria’s global presence remains strong: “Our foreign policy direction is clear, and our presence is felt globally. What we are doing is ensuring that our missions deliver tangible results for Nigerians, not just ceremonial appearances.”