Nigeria has begun the process of deploying new envoys to key foreign capitals, with President Bola Tinubu approving the posting of four ambassador-designates from the pool of nominees confirmed by the Senate late last year.
A statement issued on Thursday night by the President’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said the approved postings include Ambassador Ayodele Oke as ambassador-designate to France and Colonel Lateef Are as ambassador-designate to the United States. The President also confirmed the appointment of Ambassador Amin Dalhatu as high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom. Dalhatu previously served as Nigeria’s ambassador to South Korea.
The fourth posting approved by the President is that of Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman, a former governor of Kebbi State, as ambassador-designate to Turkey. The announcement comes ahead of a scheduled state visit by President Tinubu to Turkey next week.
According to the statement, the President has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to formally notify the governments of the four host countries of the nominations, in line with established diplomatic procedures.
Nigeria’s ambassadorial appointments had remained largely vacant for nearly two years before the President forwarded an initial list of nominees to the Senate in November. This was followed by an additional submission of 32 names. In December, the Senate confirmed 64 nominees, bringing the total number of confirmed ambassadorial candidates to 67. Other individuals on the list include former presidential aide Reno Omokri, former Independent National Electoral Commission chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, and former Oyo State first lady Fatima Florence Ajimobi.
