President Bola Tinubu has approved the posting of 65 ambassadors-designate and high commissioners to Nigeria’s diplomatic missions around the world, nearly three months after the Senate confirmed the nominees in December 2025.
The postings, announced by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, include 34 non-career and 31 career ambassadors assigned to countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and multilateral organisations such as the United Nations.
Among the high-profile appointments, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode has been posted to Germany, while former presidential aide Reno Omokri will represent Nigeria in Mexico. Former Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau is assigned to China, and businessman and senator Jimoh Ibrahim will serve as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Other notable postings include former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to Spain, former Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole to Canada, and Aminu Dalhatu — a close associate of the President — as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Opposition Party Raises Alarm
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) swiftly criticised the announcement, questioning both the process and the incomplete list. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the administration of “putting the cart before the horse” by publicly announcing ambassadorial postings before obtaining agrément — formal consent — from host countries, which he argued contradicts Article 4 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
The ADC also raised concerns about the 44 diplomatic missions not covered in the announcement, warning that leaving those posts vacant could weaken Nigeria’s international presence at a time of rising global uncertainty.
Former Envoys Offer Measured Support
Former Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, commended the President, describing the postings as long-awaited and noting that Tinubu has the constitutional prerogative to appoint and deploy envoys based on their capacity and competence.
Former Nigerian Consul to Cameroon, Rasheed Akinkuolie, described the postings as belated but necessary, urging the new envoys to move swiftly to recover lost diplomatic ground. He also advised non-career ambassadors to work closely with experienced career officers within the missions.
Omokri Thanks President
Reno Omokri expressed gratitude to President Tinubu following his appointment, pledging his unalloyed loyalty to the Constitution and to the President, and describing the posting as an opportunity to serve Nigeria for the glory of God.
Nigeria’s diplomatic missions have largely operated without substantive ambassadors since the recall of envoys appointed under former President Muhammadu Buhari, with the last major ambassadorial postings made in 2017.
