President Bola Tinubu has approved key Nigeria ambassadorial appointments, naming envoys to France, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The announcement came in a statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga on Thursday in Abuja, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
These appointments follow the Senate’s confirmation of 68 ambassadorial nominees in December 2025. Notably, the three envoys represent the first group cleared for deployment after earlier delays due to funding constraints.
According to the Presidency, Ambassador Ayodele Oke will serve as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to France. President Tinubu also approved retired Colonel Lateef Are as ambassador-designate to the United States. In addition, Ambassador Amin Dalhatu—formerly Nigeria’s envoy to South Korea—will become high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom.
The President directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to formally notify the host governments of these postings. This step aligns with standard diplomatic protocol before the envoys assume their duties.
Interestingly, the Senate screened these three nominees ahead of the broader batch of 64 confirmed ambassadors. Their early consideration underscores the strategic importance of Nigeria’s missions in Paris, Washington, and London. President Tinubu had initially submitted their names with clear proposed postings: Oke (Oyo) for France, Dalhatu (Jigawa) for the UK, and Are (Ogun) for the US.
This move marks a significant step in Tinubu’s third year in office. Earlier, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar cited budget limitations as the reason Nigeria could not deploy new ambassadors sooner. Now, with funding secured and confirmations complete, the government is accelerating its diplomatic outreach.
The Senate’s approval followed the adoption of a report by its Committee on Foreign Affairs. Lawmakers reviewed the nominations during plenary on December 4, 2025, before confirming 34 career diplomats and 30 non-career appointees.
With the postings now official, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will coordinate credential submissions and travel logistics. Once host countries accept the letters of credence, the envoys will begin their assignments—strengthening Nigeria’s bilateral ties at a critical time.
These Nigeria ambassadorial appointments signal renewed diplomatic engagement. They also reflect the administration’s commitment to filling long-vacant posts with qualified representatives who can advance national interests abroad.
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