Tinubu begins diplomatic deployments, sends new ambassadors to US, UK, France, Turkey

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the posting of four ambassador-designates to France, the United States, the United Kingdom and Turkey, marking the commencement of diplomatic deployments from the list of envoys confirmed by the Senate late last year.

The approval was disclosed on Thursday in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga.

According to the statement, Ambassador Ayodele Oke has been posted to France, while Colonel Lateef Are will serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States.

Ambassador Amin Dalhatu, a former Nigerian envoy to South Korea, has been appointed High Commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom.

Former Kebbi State governor, Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman, was named ambassador-designate to Turkey.

“The President has approved the posting of four ambassador-designates out of the 68 confirmed by the Senate last December,” Onanuga said.

He noted that the posting of Suleiman to Turkey is particularly significant, as President Tinubu is scheduled to embark on a state visit to the country next week.

Onanuga added that the approvals have been formally communicated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with directives to notify the governments of the host countries in line with established diplomatic procedures.

The presidential spokesman explained that the postings were drawn from the list of ambassadorial nominees earlier screened and confirmed by the National Assembly.

It will be recalled that in December 2025, the Senate confirmed a total of 67 ambassadorial nominees, following the adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which stated that all nominees were screened and found suitable for appointment.

The confirmed list comprised 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners and 30 non-career ambassadors and high commissioners.

Among those cleared were former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazau; former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu; former Enugu State governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; former Abia State governor Okezie Ikpeazu; and former presidential aide Reno Omokri, among others.