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By Lizzy Chirkpi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the posting of 65 ambassadors-designate to Nigeria’s foreign missions, including the United Nations, marking a major step in the reconstitution of the country’s diplomatic representation abroad.
In a statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the postings include 31 career ambassadors and 34 non-career ambassadors who were earlier confirmed by the Senate in December, 2025.
Among the prominent non-career nominees assigned to key diplomatic missions are former presidential aide Reno Omokri, who will serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to Mexico; former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode, posted to Germany; former Minister of Health Isaac Adewole, assigned to Canada; and former Inspector-General of Police aide Lateef Kayode Are, designated as ambassador to the United States.
Other notable postings include former Akwa Ibom State governor Victor Ikpeazu to Spain; former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau to China; former Cross River senator Grace Bent to Togo; former presidential aide Ita Enang to South Africa; and former Senate President aspirant Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
The list also includes former Chief of Naval Staff Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, who will represent Nigeria in the Philippines, while former Lagos State Deputy Governor Olufemi Pedro has been posted to Australia.
According to the presidency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already received agrément from the governments of the United Kingdom and France for the High Commissioner-designate to the UK, Aminu Dalhatu, and the ambassador-designate to France, Ayo Oke.
The ministry has also forwarded the nominations of the remaining 62 envoys to their respective host countries with requests for agrément in line with diplomatic protocol.
President Tinubu further directed the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately commence the induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners ahead of their deployment to their various missions.
The postings are expected to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement and representation across Africa, Europe, the Americas, Asia and multilateral institutions, including the United Nations.