President Bola Tinubu has approved the posting of three ambassador-designates to key diplomatic missions in France, the United States, and the United Kingdom, a move announced on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to the statement, the approval follows the Senate’s confirmation of a broader group of ambassadorial nominees in December 2025. The appointees include Ambassador Ayodele Oke, Colonel Lateef Are, and Ambassador Amin Dalhatu, who will be representing Nigeria in France, the United States, and the United Kingdom respectively. Onanuga emphasized that these postings are part of a carefully vetted selection process designed to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic presence in strategic global capitals.
Onanuga explained that Ambassador Oke has been appointed to France, Colonel Are will serve in the United States, and Ambassador Dalhatu has been posted as high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom. The spokesman noted that the appointments were drawn from a list of 68 ambassadorial nominees previously screened and confirmed by the National Assembly in December, highlighting the collaborative role of the legislature in the diplomatic selection process. He added that the appointees include both career diplomats and non-career nominees, reflecting a balance between professional foreign service experience and strategic political appointments.
The announcement detailed that Ambassador Dalhatu, a former Nigerian ambassador to South Korea, brings significant diplomatic experience to his new role in the United Kingdom, where he is expected to advance bilateral relations and strengthen Nigeria’s strategic interests. Similarly, Colonel Lateef Are, a non-career diplomat with prior government service, has been entrusted with managing Nigeria’s complex diplomatic engagement with the United States, one of the country’s most important international partners. Ambassador Oke, also a non-career nominee, will oversee relations with France, another key partner in economic, cultural, and security matters, ensuring continuity in Nigeria’s engagement with European nations.
Onanuga also stated that the approvals have been formally communicated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has been instructed to notify the governments of France, the United States, and the United Kingdom about the appointments, in line with established diplomatic protocols. The memo underscores the importance of adhering to international diplomatic norms while ensuring that the ambassador-designates are officially recognized by the host countries before assuming their responsibilities. The Ministry is also tasked with facilitating the necessary preparations for the deployment of the new envoys.
The statement by the presidential spokesman comes after earlier reports about former Kebbi State Governor Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman being named as ambassador-designate to Turkey. Onanuga clarified that the earlier report involved a naming mix-up, and that the posting of the former governor is still under review. This clarification sought to prevent confusion regarding the composition of Nigeria’s ambassadorial corps, emphasizing the careful attention the presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are giving to the integrity and accuracy of diplomatic appointments ahead of President Tinubu’s planned visits and diplomatic engagements.
The three new postings are part of a larger group of ambassadorial nominees confirmed by the Senate in December 2025. According to records from the National Assembly, a total of 64 ambassadorial nominees were approved that month, following a comprehensive screening by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. The screening process evaluated the nominees’ professional qualifications, experience, and suitability for diplomatic service, ensuring that both career diplomats and politically appointed envoys met the standards required for effective representation of Nigeria abroad. The three newly appointed envoys—Oke, Are, and Dalhatu—were among the non-career nominees confirmed by the Senate.
Among the broader list of confirmed ambassadors are notable figures from Nigeria’s political and public service landscape. These include former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazau; former presidential aide Ita Enang; and former Special Adviser on New Media to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri. Other confirmed ambassadors include former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former Governor of Enugu State Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and former Governor of Abia State Okezie Ikpeazu. The combination of career and non-career appointments reflects a strategic approach to Nigeria’s diplomacy, blending professional expertise with political and administrative experience to advance the nation’s foreign policy objectives.
The Senate’s confirmation process ultimately produced a total of 67 confirmed ambassadors, including three non-career nominees, and encompassed both career and non-career diplomats. Of these, 34 were career ambassadors and high commissioners, while 30 were non-career appointees, drawn from political, administrative, and public service backgrounds. This broad confirmation represents a major effort to replenish Nigeria’s diplomatic corps, which plays a critical role in promoting trade, investment, cultural exchange, and political cooperation with foreign partners.