Prosper Okoye
India and several other countries have reportedly declined to accept some of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recently nominated ambassadors, citing diplomatic policies that discourage receiving envoys from administrations with less than two years remaining in office.
High-ranking officials in the Presidency and the foreign service disclosed that India, where career diplomat Muhammad Dahiru has been nominated, maintains a standing policy against accepting ambassadors from governments nearing the end of their term.
“The issue arises because by the time the agrément is granted, some ambassadors would have only a few months left before the next election,” a senior foreign service official said. “Some postings may not commence until August, leaving barely nine months before the next presidential vote.”
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled Nigeria’s next presidential election for January 16, 2027, while Tinubu’s first term ends in May 2027.
Under Article 4 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, receiving states must grant consent before any ambassador can be accredited.
Former Nigerian envoy to Singapore, Ambassador Ogbole Amedu-Ode, said that host countries’ reluctance is “pragmatic,” reflecting the political calendar. “Why receive letters of credence from a president with just over a year left in office? Elections can go either way,” he said, adding that delays in nominating ambassadors were a misstep by the current administration.
Similarly, former envoy to Algeria Mohammed Mabdul said that while friendly nations were unlikely to reject Nigerian nominees outright, the appointees may achievements may not be substantial given their short time frame. “They are expected to serve two to three years. With elections approaching, their postings may be cut short or disrupted,” he explained.
The diplomatic bottleneck comes nearly 27 months after Tinubu recalled all 83 career and non-career ambassadors in September 2023, leaving Nigeria’s 109 missions largely without substantive heads.
Despite these challenges, the Tinubu administration has strengthened ties with India. In September 2023, Tinubu attended the G20 Summit in New Delhi, meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss defence, trade, and investment.
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In November 2024, Modi visited Nigeria—the first Indian prime ministerial visit since 2007—signing agreements on cultural exchange, customs, and strategic cooperation. Tinubu also awarded Modi Nigeria’s second-highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
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