President Bola Tinubu has approved the deployment of 65 ambassadors-designate to Nigerian diplomatic missions across the world, ending a prolonged period of vacancy that had significantly weakened Nigeria’s foreign representation since 2023.
The Announcement
The list comprises 31 non-career ambassadors and 34 career diplomats, whose nominations were confirmed by the Senate in December 2025 following their screening by lawmakers.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed:
“The President has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately commence an induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners ahead of their deployment.”
High-Profile Postings
Among the non-career ambassadors, former presidential aide Reno Omokri was posted to Mexico, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode to Germany, former Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole to Canada, and former Chief of Army Staff Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau to China.
Senator Ita Enang was posted to South Africa, former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu to Qatar, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, former Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to Spain, and former Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to Greece.
Agréments Already Secured
The United Kingdom has approved Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu as Nigeria’s High Commissioner, while France has granted agrément for Ambassador Ayo Oke. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has submitted nominations for the remaining 62 envoys to their respective host countries.
The posting of the new ambassadors is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement, promote economic diplomacy, and deepen bilateral relations with partner countries.
The non-career ambassadorial postings include:
United States of America – Lateef Kayode Are
United Kingdom – Aminu Dalhatu
China – Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau
France – Ayo Oke
Russia – Amb. Joseph Sola Iji
Germany – Femi Fani-Kayode
Canada – Prof. Isaak Folorunso Adewole (Ottawa)
Saudi Arabia – Yakubu N. Gambo
Japan – Barr. Olumilua Oluwayimika Ayotunwa (Tokyo)
South Korea – Sen. Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut (Seoul)
Australia – Olufemi Pedro
Spain – Ikpeazu Victor
Israel – Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Tel Aviv)
Qatar – Mahmud Yakubu
South Africa – Sen. Ita Enang
Mexico – Reno Omokri
Argentina – Barr. Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu
Austria – Ajimobi Fatima Florence
Sweden – Mrs Lola Akande
Portugal – Mrs Erelu Angela Adebayo
Hungary – Hon. (Engr.) Abasi Braimah
Poland – Barr. Chioma Priscilla Ohakim
Greece – Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
Ireland – Barr. Onueze Chukwujika Joe Okocha (Dublin)
Philippines – Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas
Tunisia – Dr Kulu Haruna Abubakar (Tunis)
Togo – Sen. Grace Bent (Lomé)
Gambia – Hon. Tasiu Musa Maigari
Vatican City (Holy See) – Paul Oga Adikwu
Trinidad and Tobago – Rt. Hon. Jerry Samuel Manwe (Port of Spain)
United Nations (Permanent Representative) – Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim
Career Ambassadors/High Commissioners
The career ambassadors and high commissioners approved for posting include:
Amb. Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka – Côte d’Ivoire
Besto Maimuna Ibrahim – Niamey, Niger
Monica Okwuchukwu Enebechi – São Tomé and Príncipe
Amb. Mohammed Mahmud Lele – Algiers, Algeria
Endoni Syndoph Paebi – Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Ahmed Mohammed Monguno – Cairo, Egypt
Amb. Jane Adams (née Okon) Michael – Kingston, Jamaica
Amb. Clark-Omeru Alexandra – Lusaka, Zambia
Chima Geoffrey Lioma David – Bamako, Mali
Amb. Odumah Yvonne Ehinosen – Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
Amb. Wasa Segun Ige – Beirut, Lebanon
Ruben Abimbola Samuel – Rome, Italy
Amb. Onaga Ogechukwu Kingsley – Maputo, Mozambique
Amb. Magaji Umar – Kinshasa, DR Congo
Amb. Muhammad Saidu Dahiru – New Delhi, India
Amb. Abdussalam Habu Zayyad – Dakar, Senegal
Amb. Shehu Ilu Barde – Accra, Ghana
Amb. Aminu Nasir – Ethiopia
Abubakar Musa Musa – N’Djamena, Chad
Amb. Haidara Mohammed Idris – The Hague, Netherlands
Amb. Bako Adamu Umar – Rabat, Morocco
Amb. Sulu Gambari Olatunji Ahmed – Malaysia
Amb. Romata Mohammed Omobolanle – Tanzania
Amb. Shaga John Shamah – Botswana
Salau Hamza Mohammed – Tehran, Iran
Amb. Ibrahim Danlami – Kenya
Ibrahim Adeola Mopelola – Cotonou, Benin
Amb. Ayeni Adebayo Emmanuel – Brussels, Belgium
Amb. Akande Wahab Adekola – Berne, Switzerland
Amb. Arewa (née Adedokun) Esther – Windhoek, Namibia
Amb. Gergadi Joseph John – Libreville, Gabon
Amb. Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata – Sierra Leone
Danladi Yakubu Nyaku – Khartoum, Sudan
Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru – Bangkok, Thailand.
