Nigeria Secures Diplomatic Green Light from 10 Nations as Envoys Await Final Clearance

The Federal Government has received formal approval from 10 countries for its newly appointed ambassadors-designate, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s ongoing diplomatic repositioning.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the countries granting approval include the United States, United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Qatar, Benin Republic, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.

In a statement, the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the process is still ongoing, noting that additional responses are expected from other nations.

“I wish to inform you that the process of receiving agreements from the countries the ambassadors-designate are posted to is ongoing,” the statement read.

Providing further update, Ebienfa added, “We have received agreements from the United Kingdom, France, United States of America, Ireland, Qatar, Benin Republic, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Senegal, Sierra Leone, among others.”

The ministry also indicated that the date for the induction ceremony of the envoys would be announced once final approval is secured from the presidency.

However, approvals are still pending for some nominees, including former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode, who was posted to Germany, and former presidential aide Reno Omokri, designated for Mexico.

The development follows earlier moves by President Bola Tinubu to restructure Nigeria’s diplomatic corps. In 2023, the president ordered the recall of all ambassadors, while a new batch of nominees was confirmed by the Senate in 2025 and subsequently posted in phases.