Isaac Samuel
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the postings of 65 ambassadors to Nigeria’s diplomatic missions across the world, including the United Nations, following their confirmation by the Nigerian Senate last December.
The list comprises 31 non-career (political) envoys and 34 career diplomats who will represent Nigeria in countries across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas and the Middle East.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, some of the prominent political appointees include former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmud Yakubu, who has been posted to Qatar.
According to the list, former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has been assigned to Mexico; former Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, posted to China; businessman and senator, Jimoh Ibrahim, who will serve as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations; and former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who has been posted to Germany.
Others are former Minister of Health, Isaac Folorunso Adewole, assigned to Canada; former Lagos State deputy governor, Olufemi Pedro, posted to Australia; former Director-General of the State Security Service, Lateef Kayode Are, assigned to the United States; and former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, who will represent Nigeria in the Philippines.
The non-career ambassadors also include Senator Grace Bent, who has been posted to Lome, Togo, while Senator Ita Enang will serve in South Africa. Former Abia State governor, Victor Ikpeazu, has been assigned to Spain, while Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu will represent Nigeria in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Paul Oga Adikwu will serve at the Vatican City, Holy See, while Abasi Braimah has been posted to Hungary.
Similarly, Erelu Angela Adebayo will represent Nigeria in Portugal, while Olumilua Oluwayimika Ayotunwa has been assigned to Japan.
Former Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, will serve in Greece, while Chioma Priscilla Ohakim has been posted to Poland.
Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu will serve as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, while Tasiu Musa Maigari has been assigned to The Gambia.
Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu has been posted to Argentina, while Joseph Sola Iji will represent Nigeria in Russia. Fatima Florence Ajimobi has been assigned to Austria, while Lola Akande will serve in Sweden. Ayodele Oke has been posted to France, while Yakubu N. Gambo will represent Nigeria in Saudi Arabia.
Others include Senator Nora Ladi Daduut, who has been assigned to South Korea; Onueze Chukwujika Joe Okocha, posted to Ireland; Kulu Haruna Abubakar, assigned to Tunisia; and Jerry Samuel Manwe, who will serve in Trinidad and Tobago.
Among the career diplomats posted to various missions is Ambassador Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka, who will serve in Côte d’Ivoire, while Besto Maimuna Ibrahim has been assigned to Niger Republic. Monica Okwuchukwu Enebchi will represent Nigeria in São Tomé and Príncipe, while Ambassador Mohammed Mahmud Lele has been posted to Algeria.
Endoni Syndoph Paebi will serve in Burkina Faso, while Ahmed Mohammed Monguno has been assigned to Egypt. Ambassador Jane Adams Michael will represent Nigeria in Jamaica, while Ambassador Alexandra Clark-Omeru will serve in Zambia.
Chima Geoffrey Lioma David has been posted to Mali, while Ambassador Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah will represent Nigeria in Equatorial Guinea. Ambassador Segun Ige has been assigned to Lebanon, while Ruben Abimbola Samuel will serve in Italy.
Ambassador Ogechukwu Kingsley Onaga has been posted to Mozambique, while Ambassador Magaji Umar will represent Nigeria in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru has been assigned to India, while Ambassador Abdussalam Habu Zayyad will serve in Senegal.
Ambassador Shehu Ilu Barde has been posted to Ghana, while Ambassador Aminu Nasir will represent Nigeria in Ethiopia. Abubakar Musa Musa has been assigned to Chad, while Ambassador Haidara Mohammed Idris will serve in the Netherlands.
Ambassador Bako Adamu Umar has been posted to Morocco, while Ambassador Sulu Gambari Olatunji Ahmed will represent Nigeria in Malaysia. Ambassador Romata Mohammed Omobolanle has been assigned to Tanzania, while Ambassador Shaga John Shamah will serve in Botswana.
Ambassador Hamza Mohammed Salau has been posted to Iran, while Ambassador Ibrahim Danlami will represent Nigeria in Kenya. Ibrahim Adeola Mopelola has been assigned to Benin Republic, while Ambassador Ayeni Adebayo Emmanuel will serve in Belgium.
Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande has been posted to Switzerland, while Ambassador Esther Arewa will represent Nigeria in Namibia. Ambassador Gergadi Joseph John has been assigned to Gabon, while Ambassador Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata will serve in Sierra Leone.
Danladi Yakubu Nyaku has been posted to Sudan, while Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru will represent Nigeria in Thailand.
The Presidency disclosed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already received agrément from the governments of the United Kingdom and France for the appointments of Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu and Ambassador Ayodele Oke respectively.
The statement added that the nominations of the remaining envoys have been transmitted to their host countries for agrément in line with established diplomatic procedures.
President Tinubu also directed the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately commence an induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and High Commissioners ahead of their deployment.
