Nigeria’s president announces ambassador-designates to US, France, Türkiye, UK

By Kabir Adeniyi

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday approved the posting of four ambassador-designates out of the 67 confirmed by the Senate in December.

Tinubu confirmed Ayodele Oke as the ambassador-designate to France and Colonel Lateef Are as the ambassador-designate to the US, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.

The president also confirmed Amin Dalhatu, a former ambassador to South Korea, as the high commissioner-designate to the UK and Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman, former governor of Kebbi, as the ambassador-designate to Türkiye, where Tinubu is scheduled to begin a state visit next week.

“In a memo to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Tinubu urged the ministry to notify the governments of the four countries about the ambassador-designates, in accordance with diplomatic procedures,” the statement said.

In December, a total of 67 ambassadorial nominees were confirmed by the Senate. Of these, 34 are career ambassadors, while 33 are non-career ambassadors.

Career ambassadors are professional diplomats who rise through the ranks of a foreign service, while non-career ambassadors are typically political appointees selected for reasons like expertise outside diplomacy or loyalty.