The Federal Government of Nigeria is currently in the process of vetting candidates for diplomatic positions in its missions abroad. These roles will fill positions in 109 missions, including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates globally.
Impeccable sources have revealed that some notable figures are under consideration for these positions. Among them are Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation during the Obasanjo administration, and Femi Pedro, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State. The government is reportedly following a decentralized vetting process, requiring nominees to report to the nearest Directorate of State Security (DSS) office for background checks.
Presidency officials confirmed that the screening process is currently underway, with candidates being asked to submit their personal and professional information, including their educational background and career history. “They’re already doing security checks with DSS. When they have cleared security checks, we will release the list. Only those who have been cleared are announced. The process is ongoing. I know that we should have a list before the end of this month (April),” said one anonymous official.
The vetting process is not centralized. Rather, nominees are contacted individually based on their location to submit relevant personal information. A second source explained, “Nominees have been reached to provide personal history and information such as where they attended school, what appointments they have held, and the like. So, it is by location.”
These appointments are particularly significant as President Bola Tinubu has yet to appoint ambassadors since taking office in September 2023. The delay is partly due to the lack of ambassadors following a broad reassessment of Nigeria’s foreign policy, which saw over 80 ambassadors recalled. In December 2023, the President reviewed potential nominees, planning to present a list to the National Assembly. However, delays persisted, with updates in January suggesting a change of plans.
Sources have pointed to financial constraints as one of the main reasons for the delays. It is reported that nearly $1 billion is required to address the country’s diplomatic infrastructure issues, including overdue payments to foreign service officials, repairs for aging vehicles, and renovation of deteriorating embassy buildings. A source familiar with the situation noted, “Most of those embassies, almost 90 per cent, are rundown. Either the residence is not good, the embassy does not have a functional office, or their rent has expired. Some of them don’t even have serviceable vehicles. The last vehicles they bought were from 10 years ago.”
In addition to these challenges, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar has acknowledged that financial limitations have hindered the timely appointment of ambassadors. “There is no point sending out ambassadors if you do not have the funds for them to even travel to their designated countries and to run the missions effectively,” he said in a May 2023 ministerial briefing.
Despite these obstacles, the process continues, with foreign service officials noting that provisions for some of these costs have been included in the 2025 national budget. However, they stress that the funds allocated are insufficient to fully address the diplomatic needs.
Although the full list of nominees remains highly confidential, sources indicate that figures such as Fani-Kayode, Fola Adeola (founder of Guaranty Trust Bank), and Femi Pedro are among those being considered. There are also rumors about other controversial figures, such as Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, being part of the list. However, a credible source in the Presidency has denied these claims, affirming that Omokri is not among the nominees.
In response to the delays, President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, emphasized that the process of selecting candidates for ambassadorial roles must be thorough. “Don’t forget that the ambassadorial list has two components. There are career ambassadors and political ambassadors. The foreign affairs list and the consolidated list will still go through certain processes before they are released,” Onanuga stated.
