Short tenure threatens approval of Tinubu’s ambassador nominees

Several of President Bola Tinubu’s newly nominated ambassadors may encounter difficulties securing acceptance from host countries, as concerns grow over the short period they would likely serve before the next general election, investigations have shown.

Multiple senior sources in the Presidency and within the diplomatic service said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently contending with challenges around obtaining agrément—the official consent required from receiving countries, for a number of the nominees.

The officials explained that some countries are known to prefer ambassadors whose tenure aligns with at least one or two years of the sending administration, raising concerns over the practicality of approving envoys so close to Nigeria’s next election cycle.

With the 2027 presidential poll scheduled for February and President Tinubu’s first term ending in May of the same year, insiders said several receiving governments could delay or decline approval for nominees whose tenure would be significantly limited.

A senior foreign service official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issue, said, “The problem we have, which we are trying at the moment to see what we can do about, is that most countries, like India, will tell you that if an ambassador has less than one year or two, they may have issues. Usually, one year counts to the end of any current administration.

“So, that is where there might be a challenge. By the time they get the agrément, some of these ambassadors will have just a few months left. We are trying to see how we can deal with that.”

Under normal diplomatic practice, career foreign service officers serve an average posting of about three years per mission.

The 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, specifically Article 4, requires that host countries formally approve any ambassadorial nominee before accreditation.

The convention, however, does not compel receiving states to justify a refusal, meaning nominees may be declined without explanation, including on grounds related to tenure considerations.

In September 2023, barely four months after assuming office, President Tinubu ordered a broad review of Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture and recalled both career and non-career ambassadors from 109 missions, 76 embassies, 22 high commissions and 11 consulates, leaving the missions without substantive heads for more than two years.

At the time, the Federal Government justified the mass recall based on its drive for “world-class efficiency and quality” in the delivery of foreign service operations.

Only Nigeria’s Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in New York and Geneva were retained, owing to the approaching UN General Assembly.

Nigeria’s envoy to the Republic of Niger was also exempted due to the unconstitutional change of government in the neighbouring country.

However, it was not until November 2025, over 26 months later, that the President transmitted the names of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

The first batch of three nominees, Ayodele Oke, Amin Dalhatu and Colonel Lateef Are (retd.), was forwarded to the National Assembly on November 26, 2025.

Three days later, on November 29, an additional list of 32 nominees was submitted, consisting of 17 non-career diplomats and 15 career officers.

As of the time of filing this report, no fewer than 67 individuals have been nominated to fill ambassadorial and high commission roles.

On January 22, 2026, the President approved the postings of Oke as ambassador-designate to France, Are as ambassador-designate to the United States, and Dalhatu as high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom.

Other nominees are expected to be posted to key destinations such as China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and South Africa, as well as multilateral organisations including the United Nations, UNESCO and the African Union.

Nevertheless, officials warned that the delayed nomination and confirmation process could make it difficult for several confirmed envoys to obtain host-country approval in time, particularly given the limited remaining lifespan of the current administration.