Tinubu Set to Appoint Ambassadors Amid US Concerns Over Religious Violence

Tinubu Set to Appoint Ambassadors Amid US Concerns Over Religious Violence

In response to the United States’ designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” President Bola Tinubu is set to finalize the long-awaited appointment of ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions across the globe.

The newly appointed envoys will be tasked with engaging in high-level diplomatic consultations and clarifying Nigeria’s internal security situation, particularly in light of U.S. allegations concerning the persecution of Christians.

Presidency sources familiar with the process revealed that Tinubu has ordered a final review of the ambassadorial nominee list before its official release.

Speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization to comment publicly, one senior official said, “The process is nearing completion. The cleanup is necessary because some nominees have passed away, retired, or are no longer eligible due to limited time left in service.”

The official added that although the Senate had previously screened the nominees, the updated list is being refined to reflect only those still qualified. “The original list has been returned to the President. Security and background checks were completed months ago, but revisions became necessary due to changes in status among the nominees,” the source explained.

This development follows Tinubu’s September 2023 decision to recall all ambassadors from Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions, including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates, as part of a comprehensive diplomatic overhaul. Since then, most missions have been led by chargés d’affaires or senior consular officers with limited authority.

A senior Foreign Service official emphasized the urgency of restoring full ambassadorial representation. “Chargés d’affaires don’t command the same diplomatic weight as ambassadors. With rising global demands, it’s critical to have full envoys in place,” the source said.

The push to conclude the appointments comes amid heightened diplomatic tension following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently threatened military intervention over alleged Christian killings in Nigeria.

In a series of posts on his social media platform, Trump labeled Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” claimed to have directed congressional Republicans to investigate the matter, and said he had instructed the U.S. Department of War to prepare for possible action.

“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and may very well go into that disgraced country ‘guns-a-blazing,’” Trump wrote.

While some Presidency officials downplayed the link between the ambassadorial vacuum and the diplomatic fallout, they acknowledged that having ambassadors in place could have facilitated smoother communication. “Foreign governments prefer to engage at the ambassadorial level, especially during crises,” one official noted.

Sources close to the President also confirmed that Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar is scheduled to meet Tinubu at the State House on Tuesday afternoon, possibly to finalize the list.

“When the President is ready, the appointments will be announced. An official statement is expected soon,” another source said.

It has earlier been reported that vetting and security clearances for the nominees were completed, but the process stalled due to funding constraints. Officials estimated that over $1 billion would be required to settle foreign service arrears, replace aging diplomatic vehicles, renovate embassies, and cover operational costs.

President Tinubu previously acknowledged the difficulty of balancing political and professional interests in the selection process. “It’s not easy stitching those names,” he told members of The Buhari Organisation during a visit on September 2, 2025. “I couldn’t appoint everyone at once. There are still slots that many people are vying for.”