President Bola Tinubu has approved the official deployment of 65 Nigerian ambassadors whose nominations received confirmation in December, assigning them to diplomatic missions across various countries and international organisations.
The announcement was made on Friday in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy. According to him, the president has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately begin the induction and orientation programme for the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners before they depart for their respective postings.
Among the prominent political figures included in the list is former presidential aide Reno Omokri, who has been assigned to serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to Mexico. Former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode will represent Nigeria in Germany, while former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, has been posted to Qatar.
In addition, Ondo South senator Jimoh Ibrahim will take up the role of Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations.
Non-career ambassadorial appointments
The list of political and non-career nominees includes several former public office holders and prominent figures who will head Nigerian missions abroad. Grace Bent will represent Nigeria in Togo, Ita Enang will head the mission in South Africa, while Victor Ikpeazu has been posted to Spain. Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu will serve in Israel, and Paul Oga Adikwu will represent Nigeria at the Holy See in Vatican City.
Other appointments include Ibok-Ete Ibas to the Philippines, Abasi Braimah to Hungary, Erelu Angela Adebayo to Portugal, and Olumilua Ayotunwa to Japan. Former Enugu governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi will serve in Greece, while Chioma Ohakim will represent Nigeria in Poland.
Further postings include Aminu Dalhatu to the United Kingdom, Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau to China, Tasiu Maigari to The Gambia, and Olufemi Pedro to Australia. Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu will head the mission in Argentina, Kayode Are has been assigned to the United States, and Joseph Sola Iji will represent Nigeria in Russia.
Other non-career envoys include Isaak Adewole to Canada, Fatima Ajimobi to Austria, Lola Akande to Sweden, Ayodele Oke to France, Yakubu Gambo to Saudi Arabia, Nora Daduut to South Korea, Joe Okocha to Ireland, Kulu Abubakar to Tunisia, and Jerry Manwe to Trinidad and Tobago.
Career diplomats assigned abroad
Alongside the political appointees, the government also announced the deployment of career diplomats to several key missions. Nwabiola Chukwumeka will serve in Côte d’Ivoire, Besto Ibrahim in Niger, and Monica Enebechi in São Tomé and Príncipe. Mohammed Mahmud Lele has been posted to Algeria, while Endoni Paebi will head the mission in Burkina Faso.
Ahmed Monguno will represent Nigeria in Egypt, Jane Michael in Jamaica, and Alexandra Clark-Omeru in Zambia. Chima David has been posted to Mali, while Yvonne Odumah will head the mission in Equatorial Guinea.
Other career diplomats include Segun Ige to Lebanon, Ruben Samuel to Italy, Ogechukwu Onaga to Mozambique, Umar Magaji to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Muhammad Dahiru to India. Abdussalam Zayyad will represent Nigeria in Senegal, while Shehu Barde has been posted to Ghana.
Additional appointments include Aminu Nasir to Ethiopia, Abubakar Musa to Chad, Mohammed Idris to the Netherlands, Bako Umar to Morocco, and Olatunji Gambari to Malaysia. Romata Omobolanle will serve in Tanzania, John Shamah in Botswana, and Hamza Salau in Iran.
Ibrahim Danlami will head the mission in Kenya, Ibrahim Mopelola in Benin Republic, Adebayo Ayeni in Belgium, Wahab Akande in Switzerland, Esther Arewa in Namibia, Joseph Gergadi in Gabon, and Ayo-Kalata Ogbomode in Sierra Leone. Danladi Nyaku will serve in Sudan, while Haliru Dogon-Daji has been assigned to Thailand.
The newly confirmed envoys add to earlier postings made earlier in the year. In January, former director-general of the Department of State Services, Kayode Are, was appointed Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States. During the same period, former head of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayodele Oke, was assigned to France, while Aminu Dalhatu was named high commissioner to the United Kingdom.
With the approvals now in place, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to conclude preparations for the diplomats to assume duties in their respective host countries in the coming weeks.
