admin
President Bola Tinubu has approved the posting of three ambassador-designates to France, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
The approval was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
“The President has approved the posting of three ambassador-designates out of the 68 confirmed by the Senate last December,” Onanuga said.
The posting includes Ambassador Ayodele Oke, Colonel Lateef Are, and Ambassador Amin Dalhatu, covering France, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
He said Ambassador Oke has been appointed to France, while Colonel Are will serve in the United States.
“The posting of Ambassador Ayodele Oke to France and Colonel Lateef Are to the United States has been confirmed by the President.”
He added that Tinubu also approved the posting of Ambassador Amin Dalhatu as high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom.
“Ambassador Amin Dalhatu, former Nigerian ambassador to South Korea, has been posted as the high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom.”
The presidential spokesman said the approvals were formally communicated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“In a memo to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the President urged the ministry to notify the governments of the four countries about the ambassador-designates, in line with established diplomatic procedures.”
He explained that the postings were drawn from the list of ambassadorial nominees earlier screened by the National Assembly.
“These postings are part of the ambassadorial nominees confirmed by the Senate in December,” Onanuga stated.
Onanuga had earlier named former governor of Kebbi State, Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman, as ambassador-designate to Turkey, saying the appointment was made ahead of Tinubu’s scheduled visit to the country next week.
However, he issued another statement a few hours later, clarifying that there had been a naming mix-up and that the posting is still under review.
PUNCH Online had reported in December 2025 that the Senate confirmed 64 ambassadorial nominees forwarded by President Tinubu.
According to the report, the confirmation followed the adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The committee said “all the nominees were screened and found suitable for appointment.”
The Senate had earlier confirmed three non-career nominees — Lateef Kayode Are, Aminu Dalhatu and Emmanuel Ayodele Oke — bringing the total number of confirmed ambassadors to 67.
Among those cleared were former Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau; former presidential aide, Ita Enang; and former Special Adviser on New Media to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri.
Others include former INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu; former Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu.
In all, the Senate confirmed 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners and 30 non-career ambassadors and high commissioners.
