President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the diplomatic postings of dozens of Nigerian ambassadors, with several prominent political figures named to key missions abroad.
Among the notable appointments are former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode, who has been posted to Germany, former presidential aide Reno Omokri, assigned to Mexico, and businessman and senator Jimoh Ibrahim, designated as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
The approvals were contained in a statement issued on March 6 by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, the president approved the postings of 31 career diplomats and 34 non-career ambassadors to various countries and multilateral missions.
The envoys had earlier been confirmed by the Senate in December and are expected to represent Nigeria in diplomatic engagements across several regions.
Under the postings, Fani-Kayode will head Nigeria’s mission in Berlin, while Omokri is expected to serve as Nigeria’s ambassador in Mexico City. Jimoh Ibrahim, a serving senator and businessman, will take up the role of Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Other notable non-career ambassadors include former senator Grace Bent to Togo, former presidential aide Ita Enang to South Africa, former Minister of Health Isaac Folorunso Adewole to Canada and former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu.
Key strategic diplomatic missions were also filled under the new postings. Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are has been assigned as Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States, while Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu will serve as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Ambassador Isaac Folorunso Adewole will head the mission in Canada, while career diplomat Hamza Mohammed Salau has been posted to Tehran, Iran.
The presidency also disclosed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already received agrément from the United Kingdom for Dalhatu’s appointment, while France has approved the posting of Ambassador Ayodele Oke. The nominations of the remaining envoys have been transmitted to their host countries for diplomatic approval.
President Tinubu has further directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to commence an induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners ahead of their deployment.
The ambassadorial postings are expected to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic representation and advance the country’s foreign policy objectives across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas and multilateral organisations.
Full List of Ambassadorial Postings
Non-Career Ambassadors / High Commissioners
- Senator Grace Bent – Lomé, Togo
- Senator Ita Enang – South Africa
- Ikpeazu Victor – Spain
- Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu – Tel Aviv, Israel
- Mahmud Yakubu – Qatar
- Paul Oga Adikwu – Vatican City (Holy See)
- Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas – Philippines
- Reno Omokri – Mexico
- Abasi Braimah – Hungary
- Erelu Angela Adebayo – Portugal
- Olumilua Oluwayimika Ayotunwa – Japan
- Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – Greece
- Chioma Priscilla Ohakim – Poland
- Aminu Dalhatu – United Kingdom
- Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau – China
- Tasiu Musa Maigari – Gambia
- Olufemi Pedro – Australia
- Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu – Argentina
- Lateef Kayode Are – United States
- Joseph Sola Iji – Russia
- Jimoh Ibrahim – United Nations (Permanent Representative)
- Femi Fani-Kayode – Germany
- Isaak Folorunso Adewole – Canada
- Fatima Florence Ajimobi – Austria
- Lola Akande – Sweden
- Ayodele Oke – France
- Yakubu N. Gambo – Saudi Arabia
- Nora Ladi Daduut – South Korea
- Chukwujika Joe Okocha – Ireland
- Kulu Haruna Abubakar – Tunisia
- Jerry Samuel Manwe – Trinidad & Tobago
Career Ambassadors / High Commissioners
- Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka – Côte d’Ivoire
- Besto Maimuna Ibrahim – Niger
- Monica Okwuchukwu Enebeli – São Tomé & Príncipe
- Mohammed Mahmud Lele – Algeria
- Endoni Syndoph Paebi – Burkina Faso
- Ahmed Mohammed Monguno – Egypt
- Jane Adams Michael – Jamaica
- Clark-Omeru Alexandra – Zambia
- Chima Geoffrey Lioma David – Mali
- Odumah Yvonne Ehinosen – Equatorial Guinea
- Wasa Segun Ige – Lebanon
- Ruben Abimbola Samuel – Italy
- Onaga Ogechukwu Kingsley – Mozambique
- Magaji Umar – DR Congo
- Muhammad Saidu Dahiru – India
- Abdussalam Habu Zayyad – Senegal
- Shehu Ilu Barde – Ghana
- Aminu Nasir – Ethiopia
- Abubakar Musa Musa – Chad
- Haidara Mohammed Idris – Netherlands
- Bako Adamu Umar – Morocco
- Sulu Gambari Olatunji Ahmed – Malaysia
- Romata Mohammed Omobolanle – Tanzania
- Shaga John Shamah – Botswana
- Hamza Mohammed Salau – Iran
- Ibrahim Danlami – Kenya
- Ibrahim Adeola Mopelola – Benin
- Ayeni Adebayo Emmanuel – Belgium
- Akande Wahab Adekola – Switzerland
- Esther Arewa – Namibia
- Gergadi Joseph John – Gabon
- Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata – Sierra Leone
- Danladi Yakubu Nyaku – Sudan
- Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru – Thailand