The Federal Government of Nigeria has confirmed a breakthrough as a total of ten countries have cleared President Bola Tinubu’s ambassadors.
Among those that have cleared Tinubu’s ambassadors are the United States (U.S), the United Kingdom (UK), and France.
It was gathered that these have formally granted agrément (diplomatic approval) for Tinubu’s designated envoys.
This comes as reports emerged that the administration of Tinubu is racing against time to secure argément for the ambassador-designates following their approval by the Nigerian National Assembly.
India is among the countries said to have reportedly rejected Tinubu’s ambassador pick for the country.
Tinubu designated Ambassador Muhammad Dahiru, a career diplomat to lead Nigeria’s mission in India. Dahiru was part of the total of 65 ambassador-designates approved for posting by Tinubu on March 6, 2026.
However, sources within the Presidency confirmed to the press on Wednesday that India has reportedly indicated its decision to decline granting agrément, a formal diplomatic consent, because the Tinubu administration is approaching its final year before the next general election cycle.
This development also marks the end of a prolonged period where several of Nigeria’s key foreign missions were managed by chargés d’affaires.
This is as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, announced that ten countries have already signaled their readiness to receive the new Nigerian representatives.
According to the ministry, the countries that have approved include the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Ireland, Qatar, the Republic of Benin, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.
“Responses from other countries are still being awaited,” the statement added.
Ebienfa further explained that the process of securing agrément from host nations remains ongoing, adding that the date for the induction ceremony of the envoys would be announced once finalised and approved by the Presidency.
“The date for the induction ceremony will be announced in due course once it is finalised and confirmed by the Presidency,” he said.
The development follows a prolonged period during which Nigeria operated without substantive ambassadors in several foreign missions under President Bola Tinubu.
Since assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu has delayed fresh ambassadorial appointments, leaving key diplomatic posts vacant and relying largely on chargés d’affaires to manage missions.
The absence of ambassadors had drawn criticism from stakeholders, who warned that it could weaken Nigeria’s diplomatic influence and bilateral engagements, particularly in strategic countries.
In a move to address the gap, the Presidency forwarded a list of 65 ambassadorial nominees to the National Assembly in late 2025.
Although the nominees were screened in December, their deployment remains subject to receiving agrément from host countries.
