Some countries, including India, have reportedly declined or expressed reluctance to accept several ambassadors recently nominated by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing concerns about the limited time left in the current administration.
Diplomatic sources familiar with the development disclosed that the hesitation is linked to an informal policy practiced by some countries which discourages the acceptance of ambassadors from governments with less than two years remaining in office. According to officials, such governments are often viewed as being too close to the end of their tenure, creating uncertainty about the stability and duration of diplomatic postings.
The situation has reportedly affected Nigeria’s recent list of ambassadorial nominees, several of whom are awaiting formal approval—known in diplomatic practice as agrément—from host countries before they can assume duty.
Among the countries said to have raised concerns is India, which has reportedly signalled reluctance to grant approval for Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to New Delhi, Muhammad Dahiru.
Under established diplomatic procedures, a country receiving a foreign envoy must first issue agrément, which is the formal consent allowing the ambassador to be posted to that country. Without such approval, the nominee cannot assume office.
According to a senior official within the Nigerian Presidency who spoke on the matter, the hesitation from some countries is not necessarily related to the credentials or qualifications of the nominees but rather to the perceived short duration they might be able to serve.
“They don’t accept an ambassador from an administration that has less than two years in office,” the official explained.
This practice, though not universally applied, is reportedly observed by some governments seeking to avoid disruptions in diplomatic relations caused by frequent changes in envoys.
Another source within the Nigerian foreign service explained that host countries are concerned about the possibility that the ambassadors could be replaced shortly after assuming office if a new administration takes power following the next presidential election.
“Their concern is that the president has just about a year left in his current tenure,” the source said.
“They worry about what happens if he does not win the next election. Another government could come in and decide to replace the ambassadors almost immediately.”
Such uncertainty could limit the ability of newly appointed envoys to carry out long-term diplomatic engagements, making some countries reluctant to accept them.
Diplomats note that ambassadorial appointments are often expected to last several years in order to ensure continuity in bilateral relations, economic negotiations, and international cooperation initiatives.
If the tenure of an ambassador is expected to be very short, host countries may prefer to wait until a new administration is elected before accepting a new envoy.
The issue arises after President Tinubu approved the appointment of 65 ambassadors and high commissioners to represent Nigeria in various countries and international organisations.
The nominees include a mixture of career diplomats and prominent political figures who have been assigned to key global capitals.
Among the postings announced by the government are diplomatic missions to countries such as:
- Germany
- China
- Mexico
- India
Several nominees have also been designated to represent Nigeria at major international institutions, including the United Nations.
However, diplomatic clearance for many of these appointments has been slow.
Reports indicate that only a small number of countries have granted agrément so far, including the United Kingdom and France.
The fate of several other nominees remains uncertain as diplomatic consultations continue.
Sources within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs say the current challenge may also be linked to the prolonged delay in appointing new ambassadors after Nigeria recalled its envoys from foreign missions.
In September 2023, the Nigerian government ordered the recall of ambassadors from more than 100 diplomatic missions worldwide.
The decision left many of Nigeria’s foreign embassies and high commissions without permanent ambassadors for more than two years.
While diplomatic missions continued to function under the supervision of chargés d’affaires and senior officials, the absence of ambassadors created gaps in high-level diplomatic representation.
It was only recently that the administration finally submitted new nominees to fill the vacant positions.
By that time, however, the government was already approaching the latter half of its tenure, which some countries now see as a limiting factor.
Despite the hesitation from some countries, officials within the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs remain optimistic that the issue can be resolved through diplomatic engagement.
Sources said Nigeria’s long-standing bilateral relationships with several countries may help persuade them to make exceptions to the informal policy regarding short-tenure governments.
A senior diplomat familiar with the discussions confirmed that India is among the countries known to observe the two-year rule in certain circumstances.
“I know India has that policy,” the diplomat said.
“If a government has less than two years left in its tenure, there can be difficulties accepting a new ambassador.”
However, the diplomat added that such policies are not always rigid and may sometimes be adjusted depending on the strength of diplomatic ties between the countries involved.
Nigeria maintains strong economic, political, and cultural relations with many countries across the world, which officials hope could help facilitate approvals for the nominees.
The timing of Nigeria’s electoral cycle has also contributed to the concerns being raised by host countries.
The next presidential election in Nigeria is scheduled for January 2027, while President Tinubu’s current term is expected to end in May 2027.
Because of this timeline, any ambassador whose appointment is approved later in the year could potentially serve for only a short period before the end of the administration.
In some cases, diplomats believe such envoys may spend less than a year in office before a new government decides whether to retain or replace them.
This uncertainty has reportedly made some host countries cautious about granting approval.
Diplomatic analysts say the delays in obtaining agrément could affect Nigeria’s ability to fully restore its diplomatic presence across global missions.
Ambassadors play a critical role in representing a country’s interests abroad, facilitating trade agreements, strengthening political relations, and coordinating international cooperation.
Without permanent ambassadors in place, these responsibilities often fall to acting diplomats who may not have the same level of authority or access to host governments.
However, officials in Abuja insist that diplomatic efforts are ongoing to secure approvals and ensure that Nigeria’s foreign missions are fully staffed.
They remain hopeful that negotiations and longstanding diplomatic partnerships will eventually resolve the concerns raised by some countries.
For now, the process of securing agrément continues, with the Nigerian government closely monitoring responses from host nations as it seeks to deploy its newly nominated ambassadors across the world.
