President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the official postings of 65 Nigerian ambassadors-designate to various diplomatic missions across the world, including the country’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
The list comprises 31 non-career ambassadors and 34 career diplomats whose nominations were earlier confirmed by the Nigerian Senate in December last year.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed that the postings form part of the administration’s effort to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement and representation globally.
According to the statement, prominent figures appointed as non-career ambassadors include former Cross River senator Grace Bent to Lome, Togo; former presidential aide Ita Enang to South Africa; former Abia State governor Okezie Ikpeazu to Spain; and former presidential aide Reno Omokri to Mexico.
Others on the non-career list include former military chief Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas to the Philippines, former interior minister Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau to China, business magnate Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode to Germany.
Also appointed are former Lagos deputy governor Olufemi Pedro to Australia, former University of Ibadan vice-chancellor Isaac Folorunso Adewole to Canada, and security expert Lateef Kayode Are to the United States.
Meanwhile, the career ambassadorial postings include seasoned diplomats such as 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, among others.
The Presidency also disclosed that some host countries have already granted diplomatic consent, known as agrément, for the designated envoys. The United Kingdom has approved the appointment of Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu as Nigeria’s High Commissioner, while France has granted agrément for Ambassador Ayo Oke.
According to the statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has transmitted the nominations of the remaining envoys to their respective host countries and is awaiting their approvals in line with international diplomatic procedures.
President Tinubu has also directed the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Nigeria) to immediately commence the induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and High Commissioners ahead of their deployment.
The postings are expected to strengthen Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives, improve diplomatic relations, and enhance the country’s representation across strategic global missions.