Tinubu Moves to Fill Foreign Missions: Fani-Kayode, Pedro Among Nominees Undergoing DSS Vetting
The Federal Government has commenced a crucial vetting exercise for potential ambassadors to fill Nigeria’s 109 diplomatic missions, comprising 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates across the globe.
Sources close to the presidency confirmed that the process is already underway, with high-profile nominees such as former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode and former Lagos Deputy Governor Femi Pedro among those undergoing security screening.
Rather than a centralized assessment, nominees are reportedly being directed to the nearest offices of the Department of State Services (DSS) for background checks and verification of personal, academic, and work histories.
“They’re already doing security checks with DSS. When they have cleared security checks, we will release the list. Only those who have been cleared are announced,” a senior presidency official disclosed on condition of anonymity.
According to the source, the list of final nominees is expected before the end of April.
Diplomacy on Hold: Missions Still Without Ambassadors Since 2023
Since September 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has operated Nigeria’s foreign policy—framed around the 4Ds: Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora—without ambassadors. This followed a sweeping recall of over 83 envoys during a reassessment of Nigeria’s diplomatic strategy.
Although sources said the President reviewed nominations during the 2023 December holidays, insiders revealed that the release of the final list was stalled in January 2024 due to severe funding constraints.
$1bn Gap: Infrastructure, Overheads Cripple Foreign Service
The absence of a consolidated ambassadorial list has been largely attributed to a staggering $1 billion financial shortfall, needed to settle accumulated foreign service arrears, overheads, dilapidated embassy infrastructure, and obsolete vehicles.
“Most of those embassies, almost 90 per cent, are rundown. Either the residence is uninhabitable or the office has no power or running water. Some ambassadors don’t even have serviceable vehicles,” one top official said.
Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar echoed the same sentiment at a previous briefing, stating,
“There is no point sending out ambassadors if you do not have the funds for them to even travel to their designated countries. One needs funding to run these missions effectively.”
Who’s on the List? Insiders Spill on Big Names and Big Surprises
While the full list remains tightly under wraps, sources confirmed several notable nominees, including:
- Femi Fani-Kayode – Former Minister of Aviation
- Femi Pedro – Ex-Deputy Governor of Lagos State
- Fola Adeola – Founder of Guaranty Trust Bank
There were also unconfirmed reports of former presidential aide Reno Omokri being on the list, but credible presidency sources dismissed this.
“Reno is not on the list. But FFK is there,” a source clarified.
Why the Vetting Matters
Officials stress that the vetting process is essential to prevent future diplomatic embarrassments and ensure Nigeria’s global representation remains credible.
“This is about protecting the image of the country. Every nominee is undergoing background checks to make sure they’re fit to represent Nigeria on the world stage,” a source noted.
Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, also emphasized the need for diligence.
“Ambassadorial appointments involve both career and political nominees. Every name has to be carefully vetted before transmission to the National Assembly.”
With the clock ticking and diplomatic gaps still unfilled, all eyes are on the presidency as the nation awaits the official rollout of ambassadors to reposition Nigeria on the global stage.
