President Bola Tinubu has approved the deployment of 65 ambassadors and high commissioners whose nominations were confirmed by the Senate in December 2025, assigning them to various countries and international organizations.
The list includes 31 career diplomats and 34 non-career ambassadors. A statement issued on Friday, March 6, 2026, by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, detailed the postings.
Among the prominent non-career appointments:
– Reno Omokri (former presidential aide) – Mexico City, Mexico
– Femi Fani-Kayode (former Minister of Aviation) – Germany
– Prof. Isaac Adewole (former Minister of Health) – Ottawa, Canada
– Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (former Minister of Interior) – Beijing, China
– Senator Ita Enang – South Africa
– Senator Jimoh Ibrahim – Permanent Representative to the United Nations
– Olufemi Pedro – Australia
– Lateef Kayode Are – United States
Other notable non-career postings include:
– Senator Grace Bent – Lomé, Togo
– Ikpeazu Victor – Spain
– Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu – Tel Aviv, Israel
– Mahmud Yakubu – Qatar
– Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas – The Philippines
– Aminu Dalhatu – United Kingdom (High Commissioner)
The Presidency noted that diplomatic clearance (agrément) has already been received from some host countries, including the United Kingdom for Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu and France for Ambassador Ayo Oke. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally notified other countries and requested their approval in line with diplomatic protocol.
President Tinubu directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately commence induction and orientation programmes for the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners in preparation for their deployment.
The career diplomats posted to key missions include:
– Amb. Abdussalam Habu Zayyad – Dakar, Senegal
– Amb. Haidara Mohammed Idris – The Hague, Netherlands
– Amb. Ayeni Adebayo Emmanuel – Brussels, Belgium
– Amb. Ibrahim Danlami – Nairobi, Kenya
– Amb. Shehu Ilu Barde – Accra, Ghana
– Amb. Muhammad Saidu Dahiru – New Delhi, India
The appointments reflect a mix of experienced career officers and political appointees, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic representation and advancing national interests abroad.
