Fatimah Otunsanya
President Bola Tinubu has approved the posting of 65 ambassadors-designate to Nigeria’s foreign missions and multilateral posts worldwide, including the United Nations.
The list comprises 34 non-career ambassadors and 31 career diplomats, whose nominations were earlier confirmed by the Senate in December.
Notable among the postings is the deployment of former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, to Germany, while former presidential aide Reno Omokri has been assigned to Mexico City, Mexico.
Also drawing attention is the appointment of Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu as Nigeria’s ambassador to Tel Aviv, Israel, a strategic posting given the longstanding diplomatic and security cooperation between both countries.
Other prominent non-career postings include Senator Grace Bent to Lomé, Togo; Senator Ita Enang to South Africa; Victor Ikpeazu to Spain; Mahmud Yakubu to Qatar; and Paul Oga Adikwu to The Vatican City (Holy See).
Similarly, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd.) was posted to the Philippines, Hon. (Engr.) Abasi Braimah to Hungary, Mrs. Erelu Angela Adebayo to Portugal, Barr. Olumilua Oluwayimika Ayotunwa to Japan, and Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi to Greece.
Others on the list include Barr. Chioma Priscilla Ohakim to Poland, Aminu Dalhatu to the United Kingdom, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd.) to China, Hon. Tasiu Musa Maigari to The Gambia, Olufemi Pedro to Australia, and Barr. Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu to Argentina.
Further appointments include Lateef Kayode Are to the United States, Amb. Joseph Sola Iji to Russia, and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Also posted are Prof. Isaak Folorunso Adewole to Canada, Fatima Florence Ajimobi to Austria, Mrs. Lola Akande to Sweden, Ayodele Oke to France, Yakubu N. Gambo to Saudi Arabia, Senator Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut to South Korea, Barr. Onueze Chukwujika Joe Okocha (SAN) to Ireland, Dr. Kulu Haruna Abubakar to Tunisia, and Rt. Hon. Jerry Samuel Manwe to Trinidad and Tobago.
For the career diplomatic corps, the postings include Amb. Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka to Côte d’Ivoire, Besto Maimuna Ibrahim to Niger, Monica Okwuchukwu Enebichi to São Tomé and PrÃncipe, and Amb. Mohammed Mahmud Lele to Algeria.
Others are Endoni Syndoph Paebi to Burkina Faso, Ahmed Mohammed Monguno to Egypt, Amb. Jane Adams Michael to Jamaica, Amb. Alexandra Clark-Omeru to Zambia, Chima Geoffrey Lioma David to Mali, and Amb. Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah to Equatorial Guinea.
Also on the list are Amb. Segun Wasa Ige to Lebanon, Ruben Abimbola Samuel to Italy, Amb. Ogechukwu Kingsley Onaga to Mozambique, Amb. Magaji Umar to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Amb. Muhammad Saidu Dahiru to India.
Further postings include Amb. Abdussalam Habu Zayyad to Senegal, Amb. Shehu Ilu Barde to Ghana, Amb. Aminu Nasir to Ethiopia, Abubakar Musa Musa to Chad, Amb. Haidara Mohammed Idris to The Netherlands, and Amb. Bako Adamu Umar to Morocco.
Others are Amb. Sulu Gambari Olatunji Ahmed to Malaysia, Amb. Romata Mohammed Omobolanle to Tanzania, Amb. John Shamah Shaga to Botswana, Salau Hamza Mohammed to Iran, Amb. Ibrahim Danlami to Kenya, and Ibrahim Adeola Mopelola to Benin Republic.
Also posted are Amb. Ayeni Adebayo Emmanuel to Belgium, Amb. Wahab Adekola Akande to Switzerland, Amb. Esther Arewa to Namibia, Amb. Joseph John Gergadi to Gabon, Amb. Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata to Sierra Leone, Danladi Yakubu Nyaku to Sudan, and Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru to Thailand.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already secured agrément from the United Kingdom for the High Commissioner-designate, Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu, while France has also granted agrément for Ambassador Ayodele Oke.
The ministry said the nominations of the remaining envoys have been formally transmitted to their respective host countries, requesting agrément in line with diplomatic protocol.
A Presidency statement issued by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, Friday, explained that President Tinubu has also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately commence an induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners ahead of their deployment.
