President Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the posting of 65 ambassadors-designate to Nigerian diplomatic missions across the world, including those at the United Nations, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s diplomatic presence abroad.

The list comprises 31 non-career ambassadors and 34 career diplomats. Their nominations by the President last November were confirmed by the Senate in December 2025 following screening by lawmakers.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, several prominent political figures and public officials were among the non-career envoys assigned to key foreign missions.

Among them is former presidential aide Mr. Reno Omokri, who has been posted to Mexico, while former Minister of Aviation Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode will serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany.

Also on the list is Sen. Ita Enang, who has been assigned to South Africa, and former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who has been posted to Qatar.

A former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas, who also served as an administrator in Rivers State, has been posted to the Philippines, while Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, wife of a former governor of Oyo State, will serve in Austria.

Other notable non-career postings include Mr. Aminu Dalhatu as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Mr. Lateef Kayode Are as ambassador to the United States, and Mr. Ayodele Oke as ambassador to France.

The list of non-career ambassadors also features several political figures and former public office holders assigned to strategic missions across the world.

These include a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, to China; a former deputy governor of Lagos State, Mr. Olufemi Pedro, to Australia; Prof. Isaac Adewole to Canada; and Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim, who will serve as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

In addition, a former Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has been posted to Spain, while his Enugu State counterpart, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has been assigned to Greece.

Alongside the political appointees, the President also approved the deployment of 34 career diplomats to various missions across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

The postings include Mr. Nwabiola Chukwumeka to Côte d’Ivoire, Mr. Mohammed Lele to Algeria, and Mr. Ahmed Monguno to Egypt.

Other career diplomats on the list include Mr. Muhammad Dahiru to India, Mr. Haidara Idris to The Hague in the Netherlands, and Mr. Sulu Olatunji to Malaysia, among others.

According to the statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already begun the diplomatic process required for the deployment of the envoys.

The Presidency also disclosed that the ministry has secured agreement from the United Kingdom for High Commissioner-designate Mr. Aminu Dalhatu, while France has granted agreement for Mr. Ayodele Oke.

“The ministry has also conveyed the nominations of the other 62 designated envoys to all the countries concerned, including a request for their agréments in line with standard diplomatic practice.

“President Tinubu has directed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should immediately commence the induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners,” the statement added.

The ambassadorial appointments come after months of diplomatic vacancies, with analysts previously noting that delays in filling the positions had created gaps in Nigeria’s foreign representation.