The Federal Government of Nigeria has confirmed that several countries, including the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, have granted agrément to Nigeria’s ambassadorial nominees, signaling progress in efforts to fill long-vacant diplomatic positions.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Nigeria), Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday. He said Nigeria has so far secured approvals from 10 countries for its nominated envoys.
Agrément is the formal consent given by a host country to accept a diplomat nominated by another nation. It is a mandatory diplomatic requirement before an ambassador can officially assume duty.
According to the ministry, the countries that have granted approval include the United Kingdom, France, United States, Ireland, Qatar, Benin, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.
“Responses from other countries are still being awaited,” the ministry said in the statement.
Ebienfa added that the process of securing agrément from host nations remains ongoing. He explained that the date for the induction ceremony of the envoys would be announced once it is finalised and approved by the Presidency.
“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 period during which Nigeria operated without substantive ambassadors in several foreign missions under Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Since assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu has delayed fresh ambassadorial appointments, leaving key diplomatic posts vacant and relying largely on chargés d’affaires to manage the missions.
The absence of ambassadors had drawn criticism from stakeholders, who warned that it could weaken Nigeria’s diplomatic influence and bilateral engagements, particularly in strategic countries.
In an effort to address the gap, the Presidency forwarded a list of 65 ambassadorial nominees to the National Assembly (Nigeria) in late 2025. The nominees were screened in December, but their deployment depends on receiving agrément from host countries.
Some countries, including India, have reportedly declined to accept certain nominees, citing diplomatic policies that discourage receiving envoys from administrations with less than two years remaining in office.
