KEY POINTS

• President Bola Tinubu has approved the posting of 65 ambassadors to Nigerian diplomatic missions worldwide.
• The list includes 31 political appointees and 34 career diplomats, with figures such as Reno Omokri, Mahmood Yakubu, and Femi Fani-Kayode among them.
• The appointments aim to fill long-standing diplomatic vacancies and strengthen Nigeria’s foreign representation.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the posting of 65 ambassadors-designate to Nigerian diplomatic missions across the world, including key multilateral institutions such as the United Nations.

The move is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic presence after months of vacancies that left several foreign missions without ambassadors.

The ambassadors were initially nominated by the president in November 2025 and were subsequently screened and confirmed by the Senate in December of the same year.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the postings include a mix of political appointees and professional diplomats who will represent Nigeria in different regions across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Political Appointees Assigned to Strategic Missions

Among the 31 non-career ambassadors approved for foreign postings are several well-known political figures and former government officials. Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has been posted to Mexico, while former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode will represent Nigeria in Germany.

Other notable appointments include former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, who will serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to Qatar, and Senator Ita Enang, who has been assigned to South Africa.

Former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Iba has been posted to the Philippines, while Florence Ajimobi, the widow of former Oyo State governor Abiola Ajimobi, will serve in Austria.

The list also includes Aminu Dalhatu as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Lateef Kayode Are as ambassador to the United States, and Ayodele Oke as ambassador to France.

Several other former public office holders were also assigned to major diplomatic missions across the globe. A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, has been posted to China, while former Lagos State Deputy Governor Olufemi Pedro will serve in Australia.

Former Minister of Health Isaac Adewole was assigned to Canada, and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim will represent Nigeria as the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has been posted to Spain, while former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi will serve as Nigeria’s envoy to Greece.