President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally approved a new round of ambassador postings involving 65 Nigerian envoys who will represent the country in different nations and international organisations across the world.
The latest diplomatic deployment includes both political appointees and professional diplomats drawn from the country’s foreign service.
According to the presidency, the ambassador postings are part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s global representation and revive diplomatic missions that have operated without substantive ambassadors for years.
The announcement was made by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who confirmed that the list contains 34 non-career ambassadors and 31 career diplomats.
He explained that the mix of political nominees and seasoned diplomats was intended to ensure both political experience and professional diplomatic expertise in Nigeria’s foreign missions.
Among the high-profile figures named in the ambassador postings is former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, who has been assigned to Germany.
Presidential aide and political commentator Reno Omokri will represent Nigeria in Mexico.
Other prominent political figures also received major diplomatic assignments.
Former Katsina State governor and retired military officer Abdulrahman Dambazau has been posted to Beijing as Nigeria’s ambassador to China.
Meanwhile, businessman and senator Jimoh Ibrahim will serve as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
The list also features former governors and senior political leaders. Former Abia State governor Okezie Ikpeazu has been assigned to Spain, while former Enugu State governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi will represent Nigeria in Greece. Senator Ita Enang has been posted to South Africa.
In North America, former Minister of Health Isaac Adewole has been designated Nigeria’s envoy to Canada, while Lateef Kayode Are will represent Nigeria in the United States.
Several other individuals with political and administrative backgrounds were also included in the diplomatic list.
Senator Grace Bent will serve in Lomé, Togo, while former intelligence chief Ayodele Oke, who previously led the National Intelligence Agency, has been assigned to France.
Businessman Aminu Dalhatu, a close associate of the president, will serve as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
According to the presidency, London has already granted the necessary diplomatic approval required for him to take up the position.
Other non-career diplomatic assignments include Fatima Ajimobi to Austria, Lola Akande to Sweden and Senior Advocate of Nigeria Joe-Kyari Okocha to Ireland.
Former Chief of Naval Staff Ibok-Ete Ibas will represent Nigeria in the Philippines, while Paul Adikwu has been assigned to the Holy See in Vatican City.
In the Middle East and Asia, additional postings include Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu to Israel, Mahmud Yakubu to Qatar and Yakubu Gambo to Saudi Arabia. Former senator Nora Ladi Daduut will serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to South Korea.
Several more diplomatic assignments span Europe, Asia and the Americas. These include Abasi Braimah to Hungary, Angela Adebayo to Portugal, Oluwayimika Ayotunwa to Japan, and Chioma Ohakim to Poland.
Former Lagos deputy governor Olufemi Pedro will head Nigeria’s diplomatic mission in Australia.
Others include Mohammed Aliyu to Argentina, Joseph Sola Iji to Russia and Jerry Manwe to Trinidad and Tobago.
Alongside these political nominees, the government also announced a large number of postings involving experienced diplomats.
These career ambassadors are expected to provide institutional knowledge and continuity within Nigeria’s foreign service.
Among them is Ambassador Mohammed Mahmud Lele, who will head the Nigerian mission in Algeria.
Ambassador Shehu Barde has been posted to Ghana, while Ambassador Aminu Nasir will represent Nigeria in Ethiopia.
Other career envoys include Ambassador Ibrahim Danlami to Kenya, Ambassador Ayeni Adebayo to Belgium and Ambassador Akande Wahab to Switzerland.
Additional assignments extend across Africa, Europe and Asia. Nigerian diplomats will represent the country in Côte d’Ivoire, Niger Republic, Egypt, Jamaica, Zambia, India, Senegal and Chad, among several other nations.
Officials say the latest ambassador postings are designed to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic presence in strategic locations around the world while improving international cooperation in trade, security and development.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already begun the process of securing formal diplomatic approvals from host countries.
This approval, known as agrément, is a key requirement before an ambassador can formally assume duty in another nation.
Onanuga confirmed that while the United Kingdom and France have already granted agrément to their respective Nigerian envoys, the government has submitted requests for approval to other countries involved in the ambassador postings.
Before assuming their roles abroad, the envoys will undergo a formal induction programme organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The training will cover diplomatic protocol, Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities and the responsibilities of ambassadors in their host countries.
The new diplomatic appointments follow the confirmation of all 65 nominees by the Nigerian Senate in December 2025 after screening by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Nigeria currently operates embassies, high commissions and consulates in more than 100 countries worldwide.
These missions serve as the country’s official representatives in bilateral relations, trade negotiations and international cooperation.
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