President Ahmed Tinubu has finally approved the deployment of 65 ambassadors-designate and high commissioners to various global missions and the United Nations.
This was announced by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday, March 6, 2026. It completes a major overhaul of Nigeria’s diplomatic representation following the recall of the previous envoys in 2023.
The list features a mix of 31 non-career and 34 career diplomats, representing a balance between political appointees and seasoned foreign service professionals.
The Senate had cleared all 65 nominees in December 2025, following extensive screenings that focused on national security, trade expertise, and alignment with Nigeria’s “4D” foreign policy—Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demographics.
High-Profile Postings and Political Realignment
The deployment is notable for the inclusion of several prominent politicians.
Femi Fani-Kayode has been assigned to Germany, while Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide, takes up the post in Mexico.
Former Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, will head Nigeria’s mission in Beijing, China—a critical post as Nigeria seeks to deepen its bilateral trade and infrastructure partnerships with the Asian giant.
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim has been designated as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, a role that will be central to Nigeria’s ongoing bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
Other notable non-career postings include Senator Grace Bent to Togo, Senator Ita Enang to South Africa, and Lateef Kayode Are to the United States.
Focus on Global Security and Trade
The career diplomats, who make up 34 of the postings, are expected to provide the technical expertise needed to manage Nigeria’s complex relationships across Africa and Europe.
Many of these postings are concentrated in West and Central Africa to address regional security challenges.
For example, Besto Maimuna Ibrahim is headed to Niger (Niamey), and Abubakar Musa to Chad (N’Djamena), locations that are pivotal for the Multinational Joint Task Force operations.
Onanuga confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already secured the “agrément” (official host country approval) for the United Kingdom and France.
This allows High Commissioner-designate Aminu Dalhatu and Ambassador Ayodele Oke to begin their transitions immediately.
The remaining 62 envoys are awaiting their formal clearance from host countries, a process that typically takes four to eight weeks.
Induction and the “4D” Policy Mandate
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been directed to launch an immediate induction programme for the new envoys.
The training will focus on President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” diplomatic agenda, which prioritizes attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and protecting the rights of Nigerians in the diaspora.
This is particularly relevant for the new envoys to the UK, US, Canada, and South Africa, where large Nigerian populations reside.
Official List of Non-Career Ambassadors:
- Senator Grace Bent — Togo (Lomé)
- Senator Ita Enang — South Africa
- Ikpeazu Victor — Spain
- Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu — Israel (Tel Aviv)
- Mahmud Yakubu — Qatar
- Paul Oga Adikwu — Vatican City Holy See
- Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas — Philippines
- Reno Omokri — Mexico
- Engr. Abasi Braimah — Hungary (Budapest)
- Mrs. Erelu Angela Adebayo — Portugal
- Barr. Oluwayimika Ayotunwa — Japan (Tokyo)
- Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi — Greece (Athens)
- Barr. Chioma Priscilla Ohakim — Poland (Warsaw)
- Aminu Dalhatu — United Kingdom (High Commissioner)
- Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau — China (Beijing)
- Hon. Tasiu Musa Maigari — Gambia
- Olufemi Pedro — Australia
- Barr. Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu — Argentina
- Lateef Kayode Are — United States
- Amb. Joseph Sola Iji — Russia
- Senator Jimoh Ibrahim — United Nations (Permanent Representative)
- Femi Fani-Kayode — Germany
- Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole — Canada (Ottawa)
- Fatima Florence Ajimobi — Austria
- Mrs. Lola Akande — Sweden
- Ayodele Oke — France
- Yakubu N. Gambo — Saudi Arabia
- Senator Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut — South Korea (Seoul)
- Barr. Joe-Kyari Okocha, SAN — Ireland (Dublin)
- Dr. Kulu Haruna Abubakar — Tunisia (Tunis)
- Hon. Jerry Samuel Manwe — Trinidad and Tobago (Port of Spain)
Official List of Career Ambassadors:
32. Ambassador Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka — Côte d’Ivoire
33. Besto Maimuna Ibrahim — Niger (Niamey)
34. Monica Okwuchukwu Enebechi — São Tomé and Príncipe
35. Ambassador Mohammed Mahmud Lele — Algeria (Algiers)
36. Endoni Syndoph Paebi — Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou)
37. Ahmed Mohammed Monguno — Egypt (Cairo)
38. Ambassador Jane Adams — Jamaica (Kingston)
39. Ambassador Clark-Omeru Alexandra — Zambia (Lusaka)
40. Chima Geoffrey Lioma David — Mali (Bamako)
41. Ambassador Odumah Yvonne Ehinosen — Equatorial Guinea (Malabo)
42. Ambassador Wasa Segun Ige — Lebanon (Beirut)
43. Ruben Abimbola Samuel — Italy (Rome)
44. Ambassador Onaga Ogechukwu Kingsley — Mozambique (Maputo)
45. Ambassador Magaji Umar — DR Congo (Kinshasa)
46. Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru — India (New Delhi)
47. Ambassador Abdussalam Habu Zayyad — Senegal (Dakar)
48. Ambassador Shehu Ilu Barde — Ghana (Accra)
49. Ambassador Aminu Nasir — Ethiopia
50. Abubakar Musa — Chad (N’Djamena)
51. Ambassador Haidara Mohammed Idris — Netherlands (The Hague)
52. Ambassador Bako Adamu Umar — Morocco (Rabat)
53. Ambassador Sulu Gambari Olatunji Ahmed — Malaysia
54. Ambassador Romata Mohammed Omobolanle — Tanzania
55. Ambassador Shaga John Shamah — Botswana
56. Hamza Mohammed Salau — Iran (Tehran)
57. Ambassador Ibrahim Danlami — Kenya
58. Ibrahim Adeola Mopelola — Benin (Cotonou)
59. Ambassador Ayeni Adebayo Emmanuel — Belgium (Brussels)
60. Ambassador Akande Wahab Adekola — Switzerland (Berne)
61. Ambassador Arewa Esther — Namibia (Windhoek)
62. Ambassador Gergadi Joseph John — Gabon (Libreville)
63. Ambassador Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata — Sierra Leone
64. Danladi Yakubu Nyaku — Sudan (Khartoum)
65. Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru — Thailand (Bangkok)
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