India, others reject Tinubu’s envoys over tenure policy

India and some other countries have declined to accept a number of President Bola Tinubu’s recently appointed ambassadors-designate, citing diplomatic policies that discourage receiving envoys from governments with less than two years remaining in office.

 

Sources within the Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed on Tuesday that India has invoked its policy in relation to the posting of career diplomat Ambassador Muhammad Dahiru, who was nominated to serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to New Delhi.

 

According to the sources, the Asian country is exercising its discretionary powers to decline the request by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to grant agrément—the formal diplomatic approval required before an ambassador can assume duty.

 

President Tinubu had on March 6 approved the deployment of 65 ambassadors-designate and high commissioners to various countries and international organisations, including the United Nations.

 

Among the nominees are former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, posted to Germany; presidential aide Reno Omokri, assigned to Mexico; former Katsina State Governor and ex-Defence Minister, Lt Gen Abdulrahman Dambazzau, posted to China; and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, nominated as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

 

However, diplomatic sources said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has so far received agrément from only two countries — the United Kingdom, which approved Aminu Dalhatu as High Commissioner-designate, and France, which cleared Ambassador Ayodele Oke.

 

The fate of the remaining 63 envoys remains uncertain as Nigeria continues diplomatic consultations with host countries for the required approvals.