President Bola Tinubu has submitted the names of three non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation. The nominees are Kayode Aare (Ogun State), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa State), and Ayodele Oke (Oyo State).
The letter was read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who subsequently directed the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to review the nominations and report back within one week.
This marks President Tinubu’s first list of ambassadorial nominees since assuming office on May 29, 2023.
Ambassadorial Appointments Not About Patronage
The appointments come amid renewed calls for the President to fill Nigeria’s vacant ambassadorial and high commissioner positions.
Former External Affairs Minister Bolaji Akinyemi had previously emphasized that, despite technological access to information, effective diplomacy still requires personal ambassadorial contact.
He argued that credible appointments were necessary to strengthen Nigeria’s international relations.
The Federal Government has acknowledged that several Nigerian diplomatic and consular missions abroad face financial and operational challenges, including unpaid staff salaries and debts owed to landlords and service providers.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reassured that diplomatic missions remain fully operational and are effectively managed by experienced foreign service officers, including seasoned chargés d’affaires.
In a statement, the Ministry stressed that ambassadorial appointments are sovereign functions, and not decisions to be rushed for political convenience.
The government affirmed that President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” aims to reform the foreign service, ensuring future postings are based on merit, competence, national interest, and strategic alignment, rather than patronage or expediency.
The Ministry also noted that Nigerian diplomats continue to serve with distinction under challenging circumstances, and that the country remains active and influential in international affairs.
Earlier, in September 2023, President Tinubu recalled the country’s ambassadors, including Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Tunji Ishola, who was appointed in January 2021 under the previous administration.
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