Abuja-The President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the deployment of 65 ambassadors to Nigerian diplomatic missions across the world, including the United Nations.
The list comprises 31 career diplomats and 34 non-career ambassadors and high commissioners whose nominations were confirmed by the Senate in December last year.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the postings are part of the administration’s effort to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic presence and foreign relations.
Among the non-career ambassadors appointed are Senator Grace Bent to Lome, Togo; former presidential aide Senator Ita Enang to South Africa; former Abia State governor Victor Ikpeazu to Spain; and former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Mahmud Yakubu, to Qatar.
Other notable appointees include former presidential aide Reno Omokri, who will serve in Mexico; retired Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, posted to China; and former Minister of Health Isaac Folorunso Adewole, assigned to Canada.
Former aviation security chief Lateef Kayode Are has been posted to the United States, while businessman and politician Jimoh Ibrahim will serve as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Also on the list is former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode, who has been posted to Germany.
In the category of career diplomats, the President approved several postings including 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.
Others include Ambassador Ibrahim Danlami to Kenya, Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande to Switzerland, Ambassador Adebayo Emmanuel Ayeni to Belgium, and Ambassador Haliru Bello Dogon-Daji to Thailand.
The presidency also disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already received agrément from the United Kingdom for Nigeria’s High Commissioner-designate, Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu. Similarly, the France has granted agrément for Ambassador Ayo Oke.
According to the statement, nominations of the remaining envoys have been transmitted to their respective host countries, requesting the necessary agréments in line with diplomatic protocol.
President Tinubu has also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately commence induction programmes for the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners ahead of their deployment to their respective missions.
The new postings are expected to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements and advance the country’s strategic interests globally.
