Nigeria’s Ambassador Posts in Limbo as Host Countries Hold Up Agrément

By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja 

President Bola Tinubu’s recently nominated ambassadors are facing an unexpected diplomatic hurdle: many host nations are hesitating to grant the formal approval needed before these envoys can take up their assignments. 

The situation could leave several key Nigerian diplomatic missions without accredited ambassadors for months to come.

The crux of the problem lies in timing and tenure expectations. Countries that receive ambassadors typically look for envoys who can serve a meaningful term — often at least one to two years — to allow for continuity in bilateral relations and institutional memory. 

But with Nigeria’s next presidential election scheduled for February 2027 and the current administration’s term ending in May of that year, many of the nominated envoys might have only a short period in office if approved now. 

As a result, some governments are reportedly delaying or reviewing agrément requests, concerned that a nomination with limited lifespan may not be in their interests.

Diplomatic insiders say the late pace of the appointment process contributed to the current predicament. After President Tinubu recalled all ambassadors from Nigeria’s global missions in 2023, it took more than two years for a new slate of nominees to be confirmed by the Senate.

Only a handful have been formally posted so far, including nominees for major capitals like Washington, London, and Paris. But other nominations — including those destined for strategic partners in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa — remain in diplomatic limbo as ministries await agrément.

Under international rules, receiving states have complete discretion to grant or withhold their consent. They are not obliged to explain the reasons behind a decision, meaning a delayed response can effectively stall deployment without formal rejection.

Nigeria’s foreign service traditionally expects ambassadors to serve tours of around three years, yet with the current election cycle looming, many of the newly confirmed envoys would hardly approach a full year in post. 

That has raised questions about the effectiveness of the nomination timeline and whether the Foreign Affairs ministry could have initiated agrément processes earlier to avoid the bottleneck.

Officials involved in the process say they are engaging with foreign counterparts to address concerns and expedite approvals, but the diplomatic calendar and procedural checks in receiving countries mean that some delays may persist.

For Nigeria, the implications go beyond ceremonial inconvenience. Without resident ambassadors, the country’s ability to advocate its interests, support citizens abroad, and manage bilateral relations is constrained at a time when global partnerships — particularly on trade, investment, security, and climate cooperation — are increasingly critical.