Nigeria may be facing a diplomatic hurdle as some countries have reportedly declined to accept several ambassadorial nominees put forward by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing concerns about the limited time left in the current administration.
Diplomatic sources disclosed that the hesitation is largely due to policies in certain countries that discourage accepting ambassadors from governments with less than two years remaining in office.
Among the nominations reportedly affected is that of Ambassador Muhammad Dahiru, who was designated as Nigeria’s envoy to India. Sources familiar with the process said authorities in New Delhi have indicated they may not grant approval for his appointment.
Under international diplomatic procedures, a host country must grant agrément formal consent before an ambassador-designate can assume duties.
A senior Presidency official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the issue is not a reflection of the competence of the nominees but rather the timing of their appointments.
“Some countries are reluctant to receive ambassadors from governments that are close to the end of their tenure. The concern is that the ambassadors may not have enough time to effectively serve,” the official said.
Another foreign service source explained that some governments are wary of accepting envoys who could be replaced shortly after their arrival if a new administration takes office following the next election.
“The fear is that a change in government could lead to an early recall of the ambassadors,” the source added.
President Tinubu recently approved the appointment of 65 ambassadors and high commissioners to represent Nigeria in various countries and international organisations, including diplomatic postings to Germany, China, Mexico, India and the United Nations.
However, the process of securing approval from host countries has reportedly progressed slowly.
Diplomatic insiders say only a handful of countries, including the United Kingdom and France, have granted the required consent so far.
Observers say the current situation may also be linked to delays in Nigeria’s diplomatic appointments.
In September 2023, the federal government recalled ambassadors from more than 100 foreign missions, leaving several embassies without substantive heads for an extended period before new nominees were eventually announced.
Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Nigeria) are reportedly hopeful that Nigeria’s longstanding diplomatic ties with many countries could help resolve the issue and facilitate approval for the remaining nominees.
Nigeria is expected to hold its next presidential election in January 2027, while President Tinubu’s current term will conclude in May 2027.
With the timeline narrowing, some of the ambassadorial nominees could end up serving for only a short period if their approvals come late.
