ABUJA: The Federal Government is currently vetting candidates for ambassadorial appointments across Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions, comprising 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates,
Among those undergoing the rigorous selection process are Femi Fani-Kayode,, a former Minister of Aviation under President Olusegun Obasanjo, and Femi Pedro, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State.
According to multiple sources, the vetting process is decentralized, with nominees being directed to report to the Department of State Services (DSS) offices nearest to their locations. These candidates are required to submit detailed personal histories, including educational background and previous appointments.
An official at the Presidency, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that several nominees are already undergoing DSS background checks. Once candidates are cleared, their names will be released. We expect the final list to be ready before the end of April, he said.
Another source emphasized that the decentralized process is aimed at speeding up the screenings. “Each nominee reports locally. The process is active, and the Presidency is reviewing all submissions,” the source noted.
Since September 2023, President Bola Tinubu has pursued a foreign policy agenda shaped by four priorities: Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora collectively known as the 4Ds. That same month, the government recalled over 83 ambassadors as part of a broad reassessment of Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements.
Despite expectations that a new list of appointees would be transmitted to the National Assembly by the end of December, the process has experienced multiple delays, primarily due to financial challenges.
One top official said that the major constraint is not ambassadorial salaries but capital expenditure (CAPEX). “Fixing the embassies, paying arrears, replacing outdated vehicles, and renovating buildings will cost nearly $1 billion, the official revealed.
About 90% of Nigerian embassies are in poor condition. Many lack functional offices, power, water, or decent accommodations. The vehicles used are often over a decade old. Deploying ambassadors without addressing these issues would be setting them up for failure,” the official added.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, echoed these concerns at a ministerial briefing in May 2023. “It’s a funding issue,” he stated. “There’s no point sending out ambassadors when there aren’t adequate resources to support their duties abroad. The President is working on resolving these issues.
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Classified List and Notable Names
Although the full list of nominees remains classified, sources confirmed that several high-profile and controversial figures are being considered. Aside from Fani-Kayode and Pedro, Fola Adeola, founder of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, is also reportedly being screened.
There are names being carefully vetted, and not everyone will make the final cut,” a senior foreign service official said. Security screening is essential to ensure no appointee creates diplomatic or security issues for Nigeria.
There were also unconfirmed reports that Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was among the nominees. However, a Presidency source dismissed this claim, stating, “Reno is not on the list. But FFK is.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stressed the importance of due diligence in the appointment process. The ambassadorial list includes both career and political nominees. These must undergo rigorous internal screening before being sent to the National Assembly,” he said.
