…The development comes after an extended period during which Nigeria operated without substantive ambassadors in several missions under President Bola Tinubu.
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The Federal Government has revealed that several countries, including the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, have granted agrément to Nigeria’s ambassadorial nominees, marking progress toward filling long-standing diplomatic vacancies.
This was made known on Monday by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, who stated that approvals have so far been secured from ten countries.
Agrément is the formal consent issued by a host nation to accept a foreign diplomat, a prerequisite before an ambassador can officially take up duty.
According to the ministry, the countries that have approved Nigeria’s nominees include the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Ireland, Qatar, Benin, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, while responses from other nations are still pending.
Ebienfa noted that the process of obtaining agrément is ongoing, adding that a date for the envoys’ induction will be announced once it is concluded and endorsed by the Presidency.
The development comes after an extended period during which Nigeria operated without substantive ambassadors in several missions under President Bola Tinubu. Since assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu has delayed new ambassadorial appointments, leaving many key posts vacant and relying largely on chargés d’affaires to manage diplomatic missions.
The absence of ambassadors has drawn criticism from stakeholders, who warn it could weaken Nigeria’s diplomatic presence and bilateral ties, especially with strategic partners.
In an effort 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.
Meanwhile, earlier reports indicated that some countries, including India, declined to accept certain nominees, citing diplomatic policies that discourage receiving envoys from governments with less than two years left in office.
