Nigeria Screens Femi Fani-Kayode, Femi Pedro, Others for Ambassadorial Roles

The Federal Government of Nigeria has begun the vetting process for several high-profile Nigerians nominated for ambassadorial appointments, with former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK), and former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Femi Pedro, among those currently undergoing security clearance.

Sources within the Presidency confirmed that the screening process—led by the Department of State Services (DSS)—is in full swing, as the administration prepares to fill diplomatic vacancies across 109 foreign missions, including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates worldwide.

Unlike past processes, the vetting is not centralized. Instead, nominees are being directed to report to the nearest DSS offices in their respective locations to submit personal history, including academic credentials and public service records.

“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 Presidency source stated, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the process.

Since September 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has operated Nigeria’s foreign policy without officially appointed ambassadors, following his decision to recall over 83 career and non-career diplomats as part of a comprehensive reassessment of the nation’s foreign affairs agenda, guided by his 4Ds philosophy: Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora.

Though plans were initially in motion to transmit a consolidated list to the National Assembly by December 2023, the process was delayed—primarily due to financial constraints, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs estimating the cost of necessary capital expenditure (CAPEX) to be close to $1 billion.

“Most of those embassies, almost 90 per cent, are rundown. Either the residence is not good, the embassy does not have a functional office, or their rent has expired… Some don’t even have power or running water. If you post ambassadors there today, you’re sending them to trouble.”

In addition to crumbling infrastructure, the lack of serviceable vehicles, outdated office equipment, and expired leases further compound the issue. Some embassy vehicles are reportedly over 10 years old, with many broken down and unfit for diplomatic use.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, during a ministerial briefing, confirmed that funding remains the major bottleneck. He emphasized that deploying ambassadors without the necessary logistics would be a waste of time and resources.

“There is no point sending out ambassadors if you do not have the funds for them to even travel to their designated countries… Mr. President is working on it, and it will be done in due course,” Tuggar said.

Though the 2025 budget reportedly includes some provisions for overseas missions, insiders say the allocated funds are far from sufficient to tackle the massive backlog.

While the full list of nominees remains classified, it was learned that, in addition to Fani-Kayode and Pedro, other notable individuals being screened include:

Fola Adeola, co-founder of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. Other career diplomats and political appointees whose names remain undisclosed

There were also reports that Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was being considered. However, a Presidency source denied this claim, insisting that “Reno is not on the list. But FFK is there.”

A top official involved in the selection process added:

“They’re going to announce the appointments soon… not everyone listed will eventually make it through. The nominees are being vetted to ensure no security issues arise that could embarrass the country internationally.”

According to the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the process is meticulous because ambassadorial appointments involve two categories: career diplomats and political ambassadors. He noted that both lists must undergo internal screening before being transmitted to the National Assembly.

Despite repeated efforts by newsmen several nominees contacted declined to comment and neither confirmed nor denied their nomination.

As Nigerians await the final list, diplomatic observers say the appointments—whenever concluded—will shape the future of Nigeria’s international diplomacy and global perception under the Tinubu administration.