President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the deployment of 65 ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions across the world, comprising 31 career diplomats and 34 non-career ambassadors.
The appointments were confirmed by the Nigerian Senate in December last year, while the official postings were announced in a State House press statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, several prominent political figures and public officials were assigned to strategic diplomatic missions. Among them, former senator Grace Bent was posted to Lome, Togo, while Ita Enang was deployed to South Africa. Former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was posted to Spain.
Other notable non-career envoys include public commentator Reno Omokri to Mexico, former Chief of Naval Staff Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas to the Philippines, and former Interior Minister Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau to China.
Also on the list are Jimoh Ibrahim who will serve as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Femi Fani-Kayode to Germany, and former Minister of Health Isaac Folorunso Adewole to Canada.
In the career ambassador category, experienced diplomats were assigned to several missions across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas. Among them are Ambassador Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka to Côte d’Ivoire, Ambassador Mohammed Mahmud Lele to Algeria, Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno to Egypt, and Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru to India.
The list also includes postings to strategic African missions such as Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, Morocco and Ethiopia, as well as key global locations including Belgium, Switzerland, Malaysia, Iran and Thailand.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already received agrément from the United Kingdom for the High Commissioner-designate, Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu, while France has also approved the posting of Ambassador Ayo Oke.
According to the statement, the ministry has transmitted the nominations of the remaining 62 envoys to their respective host countries and requested agrément in accordance with standard diplomatic procedures.
President Tinubu has also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately begin the induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners ahead of their deployment to their various missions.
