President Bola Tinubu has approved the deployment of 65 ambassadors-designate and high commissioners to diplomatic missions across the world and at the United Nations, in one of the most extensive postings of Nigerian envoys in recent years.
Among the notable assignments are former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode to Germany and presidential aide Reno Omokri to Mexico.
In a statement on Thursday, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the list comprised 34 non-career appointees and 31 career diplomats who have now been assigned to their respective missions.
Several high-profile political figures feature among the non-career envoys. Former interior minister and Katsina State governor Abdulrahman Dambazau will serve as ambassador to China, while Senator Jimoh Ibrahim has been designated Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations.
Other appointments include Senator Ita Enang to South Africa, former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to Spain, and former Health Minister Isaac Adewole to Canada. Lateef Kayode Are has been assigned to the United States.
Senator Grace Bent will serve in Togo, while former Enugu State governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has been posted to Greece.
The list also includes several figures close to the administration. Aminu Dalhatu will take up duties as high commissioner to the United Kingdom, while former director-general of the National Intelligence Agency Ayodele Oke has been assigned to France.
Other non-career envoys include Fatima Ajimobi to Austria, Lola Akande to Sweden, and Joe-Kyari Okocha to Ireland. Former chief of naval staff Ibok-Ete Ibas will represent Nigeria in the Philippines, while Paul Adikwu has been posted to the Holy See in Vatican City.
Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu has been appointed to Israel, Mahmud Yakubu to Qatar, and Yakubu Gambo to Saudi Arabia. Senator Nora Ladi Daduut will serve in South Korea, while Kulu Haruna Abubakar has been assigned to Tunisia.
Additional political appointments include Abasi Braimah to Hungary, Angela Adebayo to Portugal, Oluwayimika Ayotunwa to Japan, Chioma Ohakim to Poland, Olufemi Pedro to Australia, Mohammed Aliyu to Argentina, Joseph Sola Iji to Russia, and Jerry Manwe to Trinidad and Tobago.
The postings also include a wide slate of career diplomats. Ambassador Mohammed Mahmud Lele will head Nigeria’s mission in Algeria, Shehu Barde in Ghana and Aminu Nasir in Ethiopia.
Other career envoys include Ibrahim Danlami to Kenya, Ayeni Adebayo to Belgium and Akande Wahab to Switzerland. Ambassador Nwabiola Ezenwa will serve in Côte d’Ivoire, Besto Maimuna Ibrahim in Niger and Ahmed Mohammed Monguno in Egypt.
Further assignments place Jane Adams in Jamaica, Clark-Omeru Alexandra in Zambia and Muhammad Saidu Dahiru in India. Abdussalam Habu Zayyad will serve in Senegal, Abubakar Musa in Chad and Haidara Mohammed Idris in the Netherlands.
The remaining career postings include Bako Adamu Umar to Morocco, Sulu Gambari to Malaysia, Romata Mohammed to Tanzania, Shaga John to Botswana, Hamza Salau to Iran and Ibrahim Adeola Mopelola to Benin.
