Nigeria’s efforts to restore full diplomatic representation in key global capitals have received a significant boost, as several countries including the United Kingdom, France, and the United States have granted approval for the country’s ambassadorial nominees.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Monday that at least ten countries have issued agrément—the formal consent required before a diplomat can assume duty in a host nation.
In a statement, the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, described the approvals as steady progress toward filling long-standing vacancies in Nigeria’s foreign missions.
According to him, the countries that have granted approval include the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Ireland, Qatar, the Republic of Benin, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.
He added that the process remains ongoing, noting that responses from other countries are still being awaited.
Ebienfa explained that once all necessary approvals are secured, the Federal Government will proceed to the next phase, including the formal induction of the envoys.
“The date for the induction ceremony will be announced in due course once it is finalised and confirmed by the Presidency,” he said.
The development follows a prolonged delay in appointing ambassadors under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, leaving several Nigerian missions abroad without substantive heads since May 2023.
During this period, many embassies have been managed by chargés d’affaires, a temporary arrangement that has raised concerns among stakeholders about its potential impact on Nigeria’s diplomatic effectiveness and international engagement.
In an effort to address the gap, the Presidency submitted a list of 65 ambassadorial nominees to the National Assembly in late 2025. Although the nominees were screened in December, their eventual deployment remains subject to securing agrément from their respective host countries.
