Six Nigerian ambassadorial nominees are still awaiting formal approval from their host countries before assuming their diplomatic postings, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed this to Punch while giving an update on President Bola Tinubu’s ambassadorial appointments.
The ministry had last month announced that 61 of the 69 ambassadors appointed by Tinubu had received agrément, the formal consent of host countries required before ambassadors can take up their assignments.
Ebienfa said only six nominees were still awaiting the required diplomatic clearance.
“Only six remaining so far. Waiting for Agrèment,” he said.
He, however, did not disclose the countries involved.
In diplomatic practice, agrément is the formal consent granted by a receiving state before an ambassador-designate can be officially appointed and deployed.
The ministry expressed optimism that the outstanding approvals would be received soon to complete the ambassadorial postings.
Several of the ambassadors have already departed for their respective countries to begin diplomatic duties.
Among them is Prof Mahmood Yakubu, Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Qatar, who presented his Letters of Credence to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of Qatar, at the Amiri Diwan in Doha on July 2, 2026.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Mohammed Idris Haidara, also presented his Letters of Credence to King Willem-Alexander at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague on June 24, 2026.
Similarly, Amb Ezenwa C. Nwaobiala presented his Letters of Credence to President Alassane Ouattara at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan on June 18, 2026, marking the start of his diplomatic mission in Côte d’Ivoire.
On Monday, July 6, Nigeria’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to Austria and the International Organisations in Vienna, Florence Ajimobi, formally presented her Letters of Credence, also known as Copie d’Usage, to the Chief of Protocol of the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, Amb Maximilian Hennig.
Speaking after the presentation, Ajimobi, the widow of the late former Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, thanked the Austrian Government for the warm welcome and reception accorded to her in Vienna.
She also appreciated Hennig for the arrangements made for the presentation, noting that the professionalism, efficiency and courtesy extended to her and her delegation were deeply appreciated.
Ajimobi conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from the Government and people of Nigeria to the Government and people of Austria.
“Let me reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening the longstanding cordial relations between the two countries. I want to also pledge to work towards deepening cooperation in trade, investment, education, culture, multilateral diplomacy and other areas of mutual interest.
“I look forward with great anticipation to the honour of presenting my Letters of Credence to President Alexander Van der Bellen,” she said.
