Some countries, including India, have declined to accept certain ambassadors-designate recently appointed by President Bola Tinubu, citing diplomatic policies that discourage the posting of envoys from governments with less than two years remaining in office.
According to ThePUNCH, Senior officials in the Presidency and Nigeria’s foreign service disclosed that India is reluctant to grant agrément—the formal diplomatic approval required before an ambassador can assume duty—to Nigeria’s nominee for New Delhi, Muhammad Dahiru, a career diplomat.
Sources familiar with the development said the South Asian nation maintains a standing policy of not accepting ambassadors from administrations nearing the end of their tenure.
Signals from New Delhi
Three officials who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of diplomatic negotiations confirmed that the Nigerian government had begun receiving signals from New Delhi and possibly other capitals indicating reluctance to accept some of the appointments.
“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 official said.
The source added that the concern from some host countries is not about the individuals nominated but about the political timeline of the current administration.
“Some countries are reluctant to accept some people, not because of the individuals but because of time. They are already seeing the Tinubu government as an outgoing government.
“So their concern is that he has just one year left, so what if he doesn’t win the election? Another government may come and remove them. We also understand that some countries have this policy. Any ambassador from an administration that has less than a year or two in office will not get accepted. And one of such countries is India.”
Hope for diplomatic leverage
Another senior official in the foreign service confirmed India’s position but expressed optimism that Nigeria could leverage its diplomatic ties with the country to secure an exception.
“I know India has that policy. If you are less than two years to the end of the tenure, there will be difficulties accepting an ambassador. Maybe we can leverage our relationship with them to scale through that.
“Of course, there are those among them who gauge political tides, and some may see that this government can win the next election. Perhaps they may see that the election may not be so competitive because virtually everybody has moved towards the APC. They may say the chances for APC’s victory are high. That is one of the arguments the government will push forward,” the official said.
He noted that while India’s policy is clearly established, other countries could adopt similar diplomatic conventions.
“India is the only one I can confirm to you for now. The others will be based on their conventions and practices. But the one I know for sure now is India. We will have to do a lot of convincing because they have a standing rule,” the official stated.
Training plans uncertain
Meanwhile, another official disclosed that although the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has secured funding for the mandatory induction course for ambassadors-designate, the schedule for the training remains uncertain.
“On the training, we don’t know when for now. But the Foreign Ministry has the funds already to undertake the induction course,” the source said.
Tinubu’s ambassadorial list
On March 6, President Tinubu approved the posting of 65 ambassadors-designate and high commissioners to various countries and international organisations, including the United Nations.
Among those nominated are former governors of Enugu, HE Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Greece), HE Okezie Ikpeazu (Spain), former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode (Germany), presidential aide Reno Omokri (Mexico), former Katsina State governor Abdulrahman Dambazzau (China), and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN).
So far, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has secured agrément from only two countries—United Kingdom for High Commissioner-designate Aminu Dalhatu, and France for Ambassador Ayodele Oke.
The status of the remaining 63 nominees remains uncertain.
The diplomatic developments come as Nigeria prepares for the next presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027, by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
President Tinubu’s current tenure is expected to conclude in May 2027, a timeline that some host countries appear to be factoring into their decisions on whether to accept Nigeria’s new diplomatic envoys.
