India, Other Countries Reject Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees

Some countries, including India, have reportedly declined to accept ambassadorial nominees recently put forward by President Bola Tinubu, citing concerns over the remaining tenure of the sending government. The decision affects Nigeria’s efforts to restore full diplomatic representation across its foreign missions.

Diplomatic sources disclosed that India has a standing practice of not granting agrément—the formal approval required before an ambassador can assume office—to nominees from governments with less than two years remaining in office. This policy has reportedly delayed the posting of several Nigerian ambassadors, including career diplomat Ambassador Muhammad Dahiru, who was designated to serve in New Delhi.

“They don’t accept an ambassador from an administration that has less than two years in office. So they are giving us that body language already,” a Presidency source said, emphasizing that the stance is tied to diplomatic norms rather than personal objections to the nominees.

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The delayed agrément process has implications for several ambassadorial nominees whose appointments were approved by the Federal Government on March 6, 2026. The approved list includes over 60 envoys, among them former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode (Germany), presidential aide Reno Omokri (Mexico), former Katsina Governor Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau (China), and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (UN Permanent Representative).

While India’s position is the most explicit so far, officials warn that other countries may adopt similar approaches, potentially delaying Nigeria’s plan to fully fill vacant foreign missions. Some nations prefer ambassadors who can serve a minimum period of three to four years, enabling them to build strong diplomatic relationships and provide continuity in bilateral engagement.

Diplomatic analysts note that the agrément process is standard under international law, specifically Article 4 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which allows host countries to decline nominees without explanation.

The Tinubu administration recalled all previous ambassadors in September 2023, leaving many of Nigeria’s 109 diplomatic missions operating under chargé d’affaires. The current delays in obtaining agrément are viewed as a challenge to restoring Nigeria’s full diplomatic capacity before the country’s next presidential election scheduled for early 2027.

Officials, however, remain optimistic that diplomatic negotiations will secure approval for most nominees, particularly for countries where Nigeria has longstanding bilateral ties.

India, Other Countries Reject Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees

Nothing Will Happen if You Die, Afenifere Director Tells Peter Obi

The Director of Research of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Akin Fapohunda, has warned 2027 presidential aspirant Peter Obi to take personal security seriously, stating that “nothing would happen” if anything unfortunate occurs to him.

Fapohunda made the remark while commenting on Nigeria’s political climate ahead of the 2027 presidential election, urging the former Anambra State governor to prioritise his safety amid increasing political tensions.

According to him, Nigerian politics has historically shown that the death of a political figure rarely leads to lasting institutional consequences, hence the need for individuals to take responsibility for their own security.

He said Obi should be cautious about his movements and public engagements, stressing that political competition in the country can sometimes create hostile environments for prominent figures.

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The Afenifere research director noted that while Obi has a large following across the country, the responsibility for safeguarding his life ultimately rests with him.

Fapohunda’s comment has sparked reactions in political circles and on social media, with supporters of the Labour Party figure expressing concern over the tone of the warning.

Peter Obi, who was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, has remained a prominent figure in Nigeria’s opposition politics and is widely speculated to be preparing for another presidential bid in 2027.

As of the time of filing this report, neither Obi nor his media team had publicly responded to the statement.

Nothing Will Happen if You Die, Afenifere Director Tells Peter Obi

Viral Video Shows Children Armed With Guns in Borno, Sparking National Outrage

A disturbing video circulating widely on social media has sparked national outrage after it showed dozens of young boys, some as young as nine, dressed in military-style camouflage uniforms and handling firearms in a forested area of Borno State. The footage appears to depict a paramilitary-style training session, highlighting the ongoing forced recruitment of children by terrorist groups in Nigeria’s northeast.

In the video, the children stand in rows, performing drills and chanting while under the supervision of unidentified adults. Several of the uniforms appear oversized, suggesting they may have been looted from military formations or acquired during attacks on security posts, a tactic reportedly used by insurgents in the region.

Security analysts and local observers believe the footage is linked to Boko Haram or the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), both of which have a long history of child abductions, recruitment, and use of minors in combat and propaganda. Many of the children in the video are suspected to be from communities around the Ngoshe axis in Gwoza Local Government Area, a hotspot for recent insurgent activity, including raids, killings, and mass abductions.

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Experts warn that such exposure to weapons, military drills, and extremist indoctrination is aimed at grooming children as future combatants and indoctrinating them at a young age. One analyst described the use of children in uniform and armed drills as a form of psychological warfare, designed to demonstrate that terrorist groups still maintain a steady flow of recruits despite military pressure.

Human rights advocates have condemned the development as a grave violation of international humanitarian law, calling for urgent interventions to protect minors. The recruitment of children in armed conflict violates both national law and international child protection conventions, making the practice a serious human rights abuse.

Officials from the Borno State government emphasised that many children in such circumstances are victims rather than willing participants, with militants abducting minors from schools, homes, and streets to train them in camps controlled by extremist factions.

Despite ongoing military operations by the Nigerian Armed Forces, including the Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai, analysts warn that insurgent groups continue to exploit vulnerable populations due to poverty, displacement, and limited access to education, making comprehensive child protection programs essential. Recent military efforts have successfully rescued abducted children, but challenges remain in addressing the root causes of forced recruitment.

Viral Video Shows Children Armed With Guns in Borno, Sparking National Outrage