President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the deployment of new ambassadors to four of Nigeria’s most strategic diplomatic missions — the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Turkey — in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s foreign policy engagement and restoring full diplomatic representation in major global capitals.
The approvals, which target high-priority diplomatic postings, were conveyed in a memo issued to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the directive, the President instructed the ministry to formally notify the host governments in accordance with established diplomatic protocols.
The newly approved ambassadorial postings are as follows:
Ambassador Ayodele Oke — Ambassador-designate to France
Colonel Lateef Are (rtd.), former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) — Ambassador-designate to the United States of America
Ambassador Amin Dalhatu, former Nigerian envoy to South Korea — High Commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom
Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman, former Governor of Kebbi State — Ambassador-designate to Turkey
The appointments come at a critical time, as President Tinubu is expected to embark on a state visit to Turkey next week.
The posting to Ankara is therefore seen as particularly strategic, aligning with efforts to deepen economic, security and diplomatic cooperation between Nigeria and Turkey.
Reacting to the development, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the appointments as a clear signal of the administration’s foreign policy priorities.
“These postings reflect the administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement worldwide,” Onanuga said in a statement.
For several months, Nigeria has faced gaps in diplomatic representation in key global capitals, raising concerns among stakeholders about the country’s visibility and influence in important international forums.
The latest appointments are expected to address those concerns by bolstering bilateral relations with major economic partners and enhancing cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, security and international diplomacy.
Observers say the choice of experienced diplomats and senior public officials underscores the Tinubu administration’s intention to project competence and credibility abroad, while repositioning Nigeria as an active and influential player on the global stage.
Overall, the deployment signals a renewed push by the Tinubu government to revitalize Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture and expand its diplomatic footprint in line with evolving global and economic realities.