Some countries, including India, have reportedly declined to accept several ambassadorial nominees recently put forward by Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, citing diplomatic policies linked to the administration’s remaining tenure.
Sources within the Presidency and Nigeria’s foreign service indicate that India maintains a long-standing practice of not accepting ambassadors from governments with less than two years left in office.
Among the affected nominees is career diplomat Muhammad Dahiru, nominated to serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to New Delhi.
Officials familiar with the development said India is exercising its diplomatic discretion by delaying or potentially rejecting the formal acceptance (agrément) requested by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“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 source explained.
The situation has raised concerns within diplomatic circles that other countries may adopt similar stances, potentially slowing Nigeria’s efforts to restore full ambassadorial representation across its missions abroad.
Under standard diplomatic protocol, a receiving country must first grant agrément before a nominee can assume official duties.
Without it, the diplomat cannot begin their tenure.
While India’s position is the most clearly stated so far, officials caution that additional host nations may follow suit, affecting several of President Tinubu’s remaining ambassadorial appointments.
