President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the official posting of 65 ambassadors-designate to Nigerian diplomatic missions around the world, including appointments to key bilateral embassies and multilateral institutions such as the United Nations.
The postings, announced on Friday, include 31 non-career ambassadors and 34 career diplomats who were earlier confirmed by the Nigerian Senate in December. The latest move marks a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic presence abroad and filling several ambassadorial vacancies that had persisted in recent years.
Among the prominent non-career appointees, former presidential aide Reno Omokri has been posted to Mexico, while former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode will serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany. Former Minister of Health Isaac Folorunso Adewole has been posted to Canada, and Olufemi Pedro will represent Nigeria in Australia.
The United States mission will be headed by Lateef Kayode Are, while former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau has been posted to China. Former Senator Ita Enang will serve in South Africa, while Grace Bent has been assigned to Togo.
Other notable postings include former Imo State First Lady Chioma Ohakim to Poland, former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency Ayodele Oke to France, and Yakubu N. Gambo to Saudi Arabia.
Also among the political nominees are Nora Ladi Daduut, who will serve in South Korea, and Victor Ikpeazu posted to Spain. Senator Jimoh Ibrahim has been designated as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
In the career ambassadorial category, several senior diplomats were assigned to strategic missions across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas. These include Ambassador Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka to Côte d’Ivoire, Ambassador Mohammed Mahmud Lele to Algeria, Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno to Egypt and Ambassador Abdussalam Habu Zayyad to Senegal.
Other postings include Ambassador Abdullahi Danlami to Kenya, Ambassador Bako Adamu Umar to Morocco, Ambassador Haidara Mohammed Idris to the Netherlands, Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande to Switzerland and Ambassador Emmanuel Adebayo Ayeni to Belgium. Nigerian missions in India, Malaysia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Lebanon, Sudan and Thailand were also filled with seasoned career diplomats.
Officials said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already received agrément from the United Kingdom for the High Commissioner-designate, Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu. Similarly, the French government has granted diplomatic approval for Ambassador Ayo Oke to serve as Nigeria’s envoy in Paris.
According to the presidency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally notified the remaining host countries of the nominations and requested agrément in accordance with international diplomatic procedures.
President Tinubu has also directed the ministry to immediately commence an induction programme for all ambassadors-designate and high commissioners in preparation for their deployment to their respective missions.
The appointments are expected to reinforce Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement across key global capitals and strengthen bilateral relations, trade diplomacy and multilateral cooperation as the administration pursues its foreign policy and economic priorities.
