President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the posting of 65 ambassadors-designate to Nigerian diplomatic missions across the world, including key positions at the United Nations, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement and global representation.
The ambassadorial list comprises 31 non-career ambassadors and 34 career diplomats. Their nominations were earlier submitted by the President in November 2025 and subsequently confirmed by the Senate in December after screening.
In a statement released on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, several prominent political figures and former public office holders were assigned to major foreign missions.
Among those posted is former presidential aide Reno Omokri, who will serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to Mexico.
Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has been assigned to Germany.
Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has been posted to Qatar, while Senator Ita Enang will represent Nigeria in South Africa.
Also on the list is former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Iba, who has been deployed to the Philippines, while Florence Ajimobi, widow of a former Oyo State governor, will serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to Austria.
Other notable non-career appointments include Aminu Dalhatu as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Lateef Kayode Are as ambassador to the United States, and Ayodele Oke as ambassador to France.
Further appointments include former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, who has been posted to China; former Lagos State Deputy Governor Olufemi Pedro to Australia; Isaak Adewole to Canada; and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who will serve as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Former Abia State governor Okezie Ikpeazu has been posted to Spain, while former Enugu State governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi will serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to Greece.
Career diplomats were also deployed to various diplomatic missions across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Among them are Nwabiola Chukwumeka to Côte d’Ivoire, Mohammed Lele to Algeria, and Ahmed Monguno to Egypt.
Others include Muhammad Dahiru to India, Haidara Idris to The Hague in the Netherlands, and Sulu Olatunji to Malaysia, among several others.
According to the presidency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already initiated the diplomatic procedures required for the envoys’ deployment.
The government also confirmed that the United Kingdom has granted agrément for Aminu Dalhatu as High Commissioner, while France has approved Ayodele Oke as Nigeria’s ambassador.
The ministry has also forwarded the nominations of the remaining ambassadors-designate to their respective host countries for agrément, in line with international diplomatic practice.
President Tinubu has further directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately commence induction programmes for the ambassadors and high commissioners before their official postings.
The appointments come after several months of diplomatic vacancies, which analysts had previously warned were creating gaps in Nigeria’s foreign representation and international engagements.
