65 of 69 ambassadors-designate accepted by host countries — FG
August 1, 2026 7:43 pm
By Deborah Musa
The Federal Government has said 65 of the 69 ambassadors-designate appointed by President Bola Tinubu have received approval from their host countries, representing 97 per cent of the diplomatic postings.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the process of obtaining agrément—the formal consent of a receiving state to accept an ambassador—was progressing smoothly in line with international diplomatic practice.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, on Saturday in Abuja, the government dismissed concerns over delays in the accreditation process, saying only two countries were yet to convey their formal acceptance.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the public and the international community that 97 per cent of the ambassadors appointed by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have successfully received the Agreement (Agrément) of their respective host countries,” the statement read.
The ministry recalled that Tinubu assigned 69 ambassadors-designate to various countries after their screening and confirmation by the Senate.
It explained that 65 had been accepted by their receiving states, while one ambassador-designate to Togo declined the appointment before a request for agrément was submitted.
It added that the ambassador-designate to Algeria died in April 2026, and the process of appointing a replacement was ongoing.
“Therefore, there are only two countries pending that the ministry is yet to receive confirmation of acceptance/Agreement. However, assurances have been received from the two friendly countries that their consent would be given in due course,” the ministry stated.
The government said it was engaging the relevant authorities in the two countries and expressed confidence that the outstanding approvals would be granted soon.
The ministry added that most of Nigeria’s ambassadors had already arrived in their host countries and presented their Letters of Credence, enabling them to begin their duties as President Tinubu’s principal envoys.
It reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic representation abroad in pursuit of the country’s foreign policy objectives and national interests.
Deborah Musa is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with five years of experience in journalism, including three years covering the judiciary. She focuses on producing accurate, well-researched reports that provide clarity on legal and justice-related issues. Deborah’s work reflects hands-on newsroom experience and editorial diligence.
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