President Bola Tinubu has forwarded the names of three ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, marking his first such appointments since taking office in 2023.
Senate President God’swill Akpabio announced the development during Wednesday’s plenary, listing the nominees as Kayode Are (Ogun), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Ayodele Oke. After reading Tinubu’s letter, Akpabio noted that more names are expected in subsequent batches.
Tinubu’s delay in appointing ambassadors has drawn criticism for months, with some observers linking diplomatic setbacks (including Nigeria’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern’’ by U.S. President Donald Trump) to the absence of envoys.
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But in September, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar dismissed claims that Nigeria’s missions had suffered due to the situation. He explained that chargé d’affaires and senior career diplomats had been effectively running the embassies.
“There is no vacuum. An ambassador leads the mission, but deputies and counsellors handle day-to-day operations. Diplomacy does not rely on a single individual,” Tuggar said at the time.
He stressed that ambassadorial appointments are solely the president’s prerogative and would be made when considered appropriate. Tuggar added that Nigeria’s foreign policy goals were still being advanced, with missions continuing to facilitate trade, consular services, investment drives and cultural diplomacy.
According to him, it is not unusual for countries to operate without ambassadors in certain locations for extended periods. “What matters is substance, not optics,” he said, emphasizing that Nigeria remains actively engaged on the global stage.
