India, Other Countries Reject Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees

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