Fresh controversy has emerged over planned ambassadorial appointments by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the Federal Government prepares to forward a new list of nominees for diplomatic postings.
Government sources revealed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to receive the list next week for processing ahead of eventual confirmation and deployment.
However, the proposed postings have reportedly triggered discontent within Nigeria’s diplomatic community.
According to insiders familiar with the development, about 95% of career ambassadors are expected to be posted to African countries, while non-career political appointees may be assigned to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas.
Some diplomatic sources spoke to Sahara Reporters, describing the arrangement as ill-advised. One government insider said the decision could undermine Nigeria’s diplomatic interests at a time of heightened global tensions.
“What a dumb idea for President Bola Tinubu’s government to send 95% of career ambassadors to African countries and all non-career political ambassadors to Europe, Asia, Middle East, North and South America,” the source said.
The source added that with global geopolitical tensions rising, Nigeria should deploy its most experienced diplomats to strategic locations.
“At a time when Nigeria is under the eyes of global leaders and flashpoints are boiling, is this not the moment to send well-trained and seasoned diplomats to promote and protect our valued national interests?” the source added.
The preliminary list also reportedly excludes two prominent supporters of the administration: Femi Fani-Kayode and Reno Omokri. Insiders say they could still be nominated during the final stage of the process, with Omokri potentially posted to Spain and Fani-Kayode to Germany.
The perceived prioritisation of political loyalists for strategic foreign postings has generated resentment among career diplomats, who believe their professional expertise is being sidelined.
“Diplomacy has never been the focus of this Tinubu administration,” one official said.
“Deploying experienced diplomats to key global capitals would better protect Nigeria’s national interests and strengthen our international influence.”
Reacting to the controversy, former ambassador Ogbole Amedu Ode said the appointment and posting of ambassadors remain the constitutional prerogative of the president, typically based on recommendations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“These people are appointed based on the recommendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The President has that prerogative, and he would have all the information about their background, capacity, and capabilities,” he said.
“Diplomatic postings are guided by station charters, outlining the objectives an ambassador is expected to achieve within a specific period.”
Ode noted that the concentration of career ambassadors in Africa could reflect Nigeria’s longstanding diplomatic doctrine, adding:
“Africa is the centrepiece of our foreign policy.”
Preliminary Ambassadorial Postings
Africa:
- Amb. Odumah Yvonne Ehinosen – Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
- Amb. Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka – Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
- Besto Maimuna Ibrahim – Niamey, Niger
- Monica Okwuchukwu Enebechi – Sao Tome
- Amb. Mohammed Mahmud Lele – Algiers, Algeria
- Endoni Syndoph Paebi – Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- Ahmed Mohammed Monguno – Cairo, Egypt
- Amb. Clark-Omeru Alexandra – Lusaka, Zambia
- Chima Geoffrey Lioma David – Bamako, Mali
- Amb. Onaga Ogechukwu Kinsley – Maputo, Mozambique
- Amb. Magaji Umar – Kinshasa, DR Congo
- Amb. Abdussalam Habu Zayyad – Dakar, Senegal
- Amb. Shehu Ilu Barde – Accra, Ghana
- Amb. Aminu Nasir – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Abubakar Musa Musa – N’Djamena, Chad
- Amb. Esther Arewa (Adedokun) – Windhoek, Namibia
- Amb. Gergadi Joseph John – Libreville, Gabon
- Amb. Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata – Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Danladi Yakubu Nyaku – Khartoum, Sudan
- Amb. Romata Mohammed Omobolanle – Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Amb. Shaga John Shamah – Gaborone, Botswana
Europe, Asia, Americas & Middle East:
- Amb. Jane Adams (Okon) Michael – Kingston, Jamaica
- Amb. Wasa Segun Ige – Beirut, Lebanon
- Amb. Ayeni Adebayo Emmanuel – Rome, Italy
- Amb. Muhammad Saidu Dahiru – New Delhi, India
- Amb. Haidara Mohammed Idris – The Hague, Netherlands
- Amb. Bako Adamu Umar – Rabat, Morocco
- Amb. Sulu Gambari Olatunji Ahmed – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Sallau Hamza Mohammed – Tehran, Iran
- Amb. Ibrahim Danlami – Nairobi, Kenya
- Ibrahim Adeola Mopelola – Cotonou, Benin
- Ruben Abimbola Samuel – Brussels, Belgium
- Amb. Akande Wahab Adekola – Berne, Switzerland
- Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru – Bangkok, Thailand
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