The Federal Government has completed the vetting process for individuals nominated to serve in Nigeria’s 109 diplomatic missions worldwide, including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates. Despite this progress, the list of nominees has not yet been submitted to the National Assembly for confirmation.
The delay follows President Bola Tinubu’s departure to France on April 2 for a two-week working visit, during which he is expected to assess his administration’s performance and plan for the future.
Relevant security and background checks have been concluded, according to sources familiar with the matter. However, the timeline for transmitting the names to the legislature remains unclear.
According to BusinessDay, since September 2023, Nigeria has been without ambassadors after a comprehensive review of foreign policy led to the recall of over 83 diplomats.
Although the process of appointing replacements began late last year, it faced several setbacks. Initially expected before the end of December, the list was withheld, and the process stalled again in January.
According to a source familiar with the development, one of the reasons for the delay is financial constraints. The foreign ministry reportedly requires close to $1 billion to address arrears, replace ageing infrastructure, and support embassy operations. Officials have noted that the bulk of the funding challenge lies in capital expenditure, not salaries or benefits.
“You see, the major issue is money. Not money to pay them [ambassadors], because how much is their salary and benefits? The main money is CAPEX (Capital Expenditure). By the time they put the cost together to fix the issues, it is running to almost $1bn,” The PUNCH quoted a source in the presidency.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has acknowledged these financial challenges, stating that deploying ambassadors without sufficient funds to support their missions would be ineffective. The president is said to be cautious about committing to appointments without securing the necessary resources.
“We met a situation where Foreign Affairs was not being funded like it should be. There is no point in sending out ambassadors if you do not have the funds for them to even travel to their designated country and run the missions effectively; one needs funding. Mr President is working on it, and it will be done in due course,” Yusuf Tuggar, the minister of Foreign Affairs, explained during a ministerial briefing last year.
Further complicating the situation are reports of last-minute changes to the list of nominees. Sources indicate that the presidency is working to avoid errors that could require public corrections or withdrawals.
Once submitted, the nominees will undergo screening by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. Upon confirmation, they will attend orientation before receiving official credentials and taking up their posts abroad.
