President Bola Tinubu has approved the deployment of four ambassador-designates to France, the United States, the United Kingdom and Turkey.
The approval was announced on Thursday in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy.
“The President has approved ...ing of four ambassador-designates out of the 68 confirmed by the Senate last December,” Onanuga said.
The nominees are Ayodele Oke, ambassador-designate to France; Lateef Are, ambassador-designate to the United States; Amin Dalhatu, high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom; and Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman, ambassador-designate to Turkey.
“...ing of Ambassador Ayodele Oke to France and Colonel Lateef Are to the United States has been confirmed by the President,” Onanuga stated.
He added that Amin Dalhatu, former Nigerian ambassador to South Korea, has been assigned to London.
“Ambassador Amin Dalhatu, former Nigerian ambassador to South Korea, has been posted as the high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom,” he said.
Onanuga also disclosed that Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman, former governor of Kebbi state, will represent Nigeria in Ankara.
“Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman, former governor of Kebbi State, is the ambassador-designate to Turkey,” he said.
The presidential spokesman noted that the Turkish posting coincides with an impending diplomatic visit by Tinubu.
“...ing of Suleiman to Turkey comes as the President is scheduled to begin a state visit to the country next week,” Onanuga added.
He said the approvals had been formally conveyed 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,” Onanuga said.
The spokesman explained that ...ings were drawn from the pool of nominees earlier screened and cleared by the national assembly.
“These postings are part of the ambassadorial nominees confirmed by the Senate in December,” he stated.
The Senate had, in December 2025, confirmed ambassadorial nominees forwarded by Tinubu following the adoption of a report by its committee on foreign affairs.
The committee said “all the nominees were screened and found suitable for appointment.”
The confirmations included career and non-career diplomats, among them former ministers, ex-governors and former senior presidential aides.
In total, the upper chamber cleared 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners alongside 30 non-career ambassadors and high commissioners.