By Damilola Adeleke

The Nigerian government has begun screening candidates for ambassadorial positions nearly two years after President Bola Tinubu recalled all ambassadors, sources have confirmed.

According to a report by Reuters, the federal government is conducting background checks on potential appointees, with intelligence agencies providing screening reports to the presidency and legislature.

President Tinubu recalled all career and non-career ambassadors in September 2023, just six months into his administration. Since then, only consuls-general and chargés d’affaires have been appointed, leaving key diplomatic positions vacant.

The delay in appointing new ambassadors has raised concerns among foreign officials and stakeholders, who have noted a gap in Nigeria’s diplomatic representation worldwide. Despite receiving multiple letters of credence from foreign ambassadors posted to Nigeria, the government had not announced replacements for its recalled envoys.

Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar previously attributed the delay to budgetary constraints. However, a government source now says the issue is being resolved, and the appointments will be announced “very soon.”

For 2025, the federal government has allocated N302.4 billion for Nigeria’s foreign missions, a move seen as paving the way for the long-awaited ambassadorial appointments.

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The Nigerian government has begun screening candidates for ambassadorial positions nearly two years after President Bola Tinubu recalled all ambassadors, sources have confirmed.

According to a report by Reuters, the federal government is conducting background checks on potential appointees, with intelligence agencies providing screening reports to the presidency and legislature.

President Tinubu recalled all career and non-career ambassadors in September 2023, just six months into his administration. Since then, only consuls-general and chargés d’affaires have been appointed, leaving key diplomatic positions vacant.

The delay in appointing new ambassadors has raised concerns among foreign officials and stakeholders, who have noted a gap in Nigeria’s diplomatic representation worldwide. Despite receiving multiple letters of credence from foreign ambassadors posted to Nigeria, the government had not announced replacements for its recalled envoys.

Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar previously attributed the delay to budgetary constraints. However, a government source now says the issue is being resolved, and the appointments will be announced “very soon.”

For 2025, the federal government has allocated N302.4 billion for Nigeria’s foreign missions, a move seen as paving the way for the long-awaited ambassadorial appointments.