Breaking: Tinubu Approves Posting of 65 Ambassadors to Foreign Missions

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the postings of 65 ambassadors-designate to Nigerian diplomatic missions across the world, including the United Nations.

The list comprises 31 career diplomats and 34 non-career ambassadors whose nominations were earlier confirmed by the Nigerian Senate in December.

According to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the appointments form part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic presence and advance the country’s foreign policy interests.

Among the non-career ambassadors, former Cross River lawmaker Grace Bent has been posted to Lome, Togo, while former presidential aide Ita Enang will serve in South Africa. Former Abia State governor Okezie Ikpeazu has been assigned to Spain, and former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, will serve in Qatar.

Also on the list are former Ekiti deputy governor Olufemi Pedro to Australia; former Director-General of the State Security Service Lateef Kayode Are to the United States; former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode to Germany; former Minister of Health Isaac Adewole to Canada; and businessman Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Others include former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau to China, former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency Ayodele Oke to France, and former Chief of Naval Staff Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas to the Philippines.

The postings also feature several career diplomats assigned to key missions. Among them are Ambassador Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka to Côte d’Ivoire, Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno to Egypt, Ambassador Abdussalam Habu Zayyad to Senegal, Ambassador Aminu Nasir to Ethiopia, and Ambassador Ayeni Adebayo Emmanuel to Belgium.

The Presidency disclosed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already secured agrément from the United Kingdom for High Commissioner-designate Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu and from France for Ambassador Ayo Oke.

It added that nominations for the remaining envoys have been transmitted to their respective host countries requesting diplomatic approval in line with international practice.

President Tinubu has also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately commence induction programmes for all the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners ahead of their deployment.