President Bola Tinubu has carried out a reshuffle in Nigeria’s foreign affairs leadership with the appointment of Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs following the resignation of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.
The announcement was made in a statement by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, who confirmed that Tuggar stepped down from his position to focus on preparations for the 2027 elections.
Bola Tinubu noted that Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who previously served as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, has now been elevated to oversee the ministry at the cabinet level.
In a related appointment, the President also nominated Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as the new Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, pending confirmation by the Senate.
Enikanolaiye, from Kogi State, is a seasoned diplomat with over 30 years of experience in Nigeria’s foreign service. Before his nomination, he served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations. Over the years, he has held several key diplomatic roles, including postings in Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Ottawa, London, and New Delhi, and previously served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu is expected to lead efforts in strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement, while Enikanolaiye will support policy coordination and international relations strategy within the ministry.
According to the presidency, the appointments are part of broader efforts to reposition Nigeria’s foreign policy framework for improved efficiency, stronger global partnerships, and more effective economic diplomacy.
President Tinubu congratulated the appointees and urged them to focus on promoting Nigeria’s national interests, advancing regional stability, and safeguarding the welfare of Nigerians both at home and abroad.
