Nigeria’s newly appointed ambassadors are expected to officially resume duties in their various countries of assignment in 2026, following their recent clearance and confirmation by the National Assembly.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known on Monday while addressing journalists at the Federal Government’s end-of-year press conference in Abuja.
According to the minister, the deployment of the ambassadors will help deepen Nigeria’s bilateral relationships, boost the country’s global presence and strengthen strategic diplomatic engagements across different regions of the world.
He explained that all necessary confirmations have now been completed by the National Assembly, paving the way for the ambassadors to take up their roles next year.
“In 2026, our newly appointed ambassadors will assume duty in their respective countries of assignment. Their clearance and confirmation have just been concluded by the National Assembly,” Idris said.
The minister noted that the appointments were made in response to widespread public calls for Nigeria to restore full diplomatic representation abroad. He added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu acted decisively to address these concerns.
“Before now, there were several complaints and agitations over the absence of ambassadors in many countries. President Tinubu has responded by ensuring that these positions are filled,” he stated.
Idris further explained that while significant progress has been made in the deployment process, some remaining administrative steps will be completed in 2026.
He stressed that the posting of ambassadors would enhance Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements in political, economic, and security sectors, while also promoting the country’s interests on the global stage.
Last week, the Senate confirmed 64 ambassadorial nominees submitted by President Tinubu. Among those approved were former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri.
The confirmation followed the adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which stated that all nominees were thoroughly screened and found suitable for appointment.
Earlier, the Senate had also confirmed three non-career ambassadors which includes Lateef Kayode Are from Ogun State, Aminu Dalhatu from Jigawa State, and Emmanuel Ayodele Oke from Oyo State, bringing the total number of confirmed ambassadors to 67.
Other notable nominees cleared include former Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau; former presidential aide, Ita Enang; former senator, Grace Bent; former INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu; former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.
In total, the confirmed nominees comprise 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners, alongside 30 non-career ambassadors and high commissioners.
The confirmation exercise represents a major step in Nigeria’s efforts to fill long-vacant diplomatic positions and reposition its foreign missions, following the mass recall of ambassadors in 2023 that left many missions without full representation.
Advertisement
