President Bola Tinubu has authorised the deployment of three ambassador-designates to key diplomatic missions in France, the United States, US, and the United Kingdom, UK.
The approval was disclosed on Thursday in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the postings were drawn from the list of ambassadors confirmed by the Senate in December.
“The President has approved the posting of three ambassador-designates out of the 68 confirmed by the Senate last December,” Onanuga said.
According to the statement, Ambassador Emmanuel Ayodele Oke has been assigned to France, while Colonel Lateef Kayode Are will serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to 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.”
Onanuga added that Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu has been designated as Nigeria’s high commissioner 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.”
He explained that the approvals had been formally conveyed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for onward transmission to the host countries in line with diplomatic protocol.
“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.”
The presidential aide noted that the postings were part of the ambassadorial list earlier vetted and cleared by the National Assembly.
“These postings are part of the ambassadorial nominees confirmed by the Senate in December,” Onanuga stated.
He also clarified that an earlier announcement naming a former Kebbi State governor as ambassador-designate to Turkey was issued in error, noting that the proposed posting remains under review.
In December 2025, the Senate confirmed a total of 64 ambassadorial nominees forwarded by President Tinubu after adopting a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which said all the nominees were screened and found suitable for appointment.
The Senate had earlier cleared three non-career nominees — Lateef Kayode Are, Aminu Dalhatu and Emmanuel Ayodele Oke — bringing the total number of confirmed ambassadors to 67.
Those confirmed include former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazau, former presidential aide Ita Enang, former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
Overall, the Senate approved 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners, alongside 30 non-career diplomats.
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