According to GREENMAX, President Bola Tinubu is planning to submit the names of ambassadors-designate to the Senate for vetting and approval.
The list includes nominees to serve as Nigeria’s ambassadors and high commissioners in various nations and global organizations.
Government insiders familiar with the situation told our reporter that the names of nominees will be delivered in early December.
This development comes 14 months after 83 ambassadors were recalled in September 2023.
Nigeria has 109 missions, 76 embassies, 22 high commissions and 11 consulates globally.
On Wednesday, the President left Abuja for a three-day state visit to France at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron.
Following that, he is set to pay a state visit to South Africa, his second visit since witnessing President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration in June.
Tinubu evaluated Nigeria’s foreign policy after taking office in May 2023, prompting the recall of all 83 career and non-career ambassadors from their posts.
The envoys were asked to return to Nigeria by October 31, 2023.
Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that the ambassadors served at the President’s request in their host countries, and it was his “prerogative to send or recall them from any country.”
However, 14 months later, they had yet to be replaced, creating a diplomatic vacancy.
Section 171(2)(1c) and Subsection 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as modified) provide for appointments to the office of ambassador, high commissioner, or other principal representatives of Nigeria abroad to be made by the President and shall not have effect unless the Senate confirms it.
On March 25, Tuggar confirmed that the ministry had compiled and forwarded the names of prospective career diplomats to the President for consideration.
