Former Ministers, Ex-Governors, and other officials, who served in the administration of former President, Muhammadu Buhari, and political associates of President Bola Tinubu are lobbying for ambassadorial appointments.

According to Channels TV reports, chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), National Assembly members, and retired military officers are among those jostling for ambassadorial nominations.

Nigeria has a total of 109 missions, 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates abroad.

Integrity News understands that the lobbying for ambassadorial appointments commenced after President Tinubu recalled all the envoys from their posts on September 2, 2023.

The envoys were directed to return to the country on or before October 31.

Former President, Muhammadu Buhari, on October 20, 2016, approved the nomination of 46 non-career ambassadors-designate in addition to the previous nomination of 47 career ambassadors-designate.

There was controversy over the recall of ambassadors by Buhari’s government but his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, debunked the reports in a statement.

According to Shehu, only 25 career ambassadors, who had attained the retirement age and had been in public service for 35 years, were recalled.

He stated, “There was nothing like mass recall of ambassadors. What happened lately is that 25 career ambassadors, who attained the retirement age, or 35 years of public service in December 2018, were recalled.

“They were allowed to remain at their duty posts and given an extension, if that is the word, in view of the upcoming elections, which are now behind us.”

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