President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the postings of 65 ambassadors to Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad, comprising 31 career diplomats and 34 non-career appointees.

 

The ambassadors-designate were confirmed by the Senate in December, according to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Among the non-career ambassadors, former Akwa Ibom senator Grace Bent was posted to Lomé, Togo, while former presidential aide Ita Enang will serve in South Africa. Media personality Reno Omokri was assigned to Mexico, while former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode will head Nigeria’s mission in Germany.

Other notable appointments include former Health Minister Isaac Adewole to Canada, former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency Ayodele Oke to France, and ex-Lagos Deputy Governor Olufemi Pedro to Australia.

Former Interior Minister Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau has been posted to China, while businessman and senator Jimoh Ibrahim will serve as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Other non-career envoys include Lateef Kayode Are to the United States, Mahmud Yakubu to Qatar, Nora Ladi Daduut to South Korea, and Angela Adebayo to Portugal.

The list of career ambassadors includes several seasoned diplomats posted to strategic missions. Ahmed Mohammed Monguno was assigned to Egypt, Muhammad Saidu Dahiru to India, and Shehu Ilu Barde to Ghana.

Others include Haidara Mohammed Idris to the Netherlands, Bako Adamu Umar to Morocco, and Aminu Nasir to Ethiopia.

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

It added that the ministry has forwarded the nominations of the remaining envoys to their respective host countries while requesting agrément in line with diplomatic procedures.

President Tinubu has also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately begin an induction programme for the ambassadors and high commissioners ahead of their postings.