President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the posting of four ambassador-designates to key diplomatic missions in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Turkey, marking the first batch of foreign postings following Senate confirmation of nominees last year.
A statement issued on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the development.
According to the statement, Ambassador Ayodele Oke has been cleared as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to France, while Colonel Lateef Are has been approved for posting to the United States of America.
Also approved is Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu, a former Nigerian envoy to South Korea, who has been designated as the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
In addition, former Kebbi State governor, Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman, has been named ambassador-designate to Turkey, where President Tinubu is expected to embark on a state visit next week.
The President has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately notify the host countries of the approved postings in line with established diplomatic protocols.
Recall that President Tinubu transmitted an initial list of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate in November 2025, following nearly two years of vacancies across Nigeria’s foreign missions. A supplementary list of 32 nominees was later forwarded.
In December, the Senate confirmed 64 nominees, bringing the total number of confirmed ambassador-designates to 67.
Apart from the four recently approved postings, other confirmed nominees include former presidential aide Reno Omokri, ex-INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, and former Oyo State First Lady, Fatima Florence Ajimobi, among others.
The gradual deployment of the ambassadors is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic presence and international engagements under the Tinubu administration.
