President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday approved the immediate deployment of three ambassador-designates to key global missions.
This development kick-starts the first phase of deployments from the 68 nominees recently confirmed by the Senate.
Leading the deployment is Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are, a former Director-General of the State Security Service, who has been posted to the United States.
His deployment comes amid the recent frosty relationship between the U.S and Nigeria. The relationship has led to the U.S. adding Nigeria to its partial travel restriction list and also cutting the visa validity of Nigerians.
He is joined by Ambassador Ayodele Oke, assigned to France, and Ambassador Amin Dalhatu, who will serve as the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
The approval was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
“The President has approved the posting of four ambassador-designates out of the 68 confirmed by the Senate last December,” Onanuga said.
“The posting of Ambassador Ayodele Oke to France and Colonel Lateef Are to the United States has been confirmed by the President.
“Ambassador Amin Dalhatu, former Nigerian ambassador to South Korea, has been posted as the high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom.
The presidential spokesman said the approvals were formally communicated 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.”
He explained that the postings were drawn from the list of ambassadorial nominees earlier screened by the National Assembly.
“These postings are part of the ambassadorial nominees confirmed by the Senate in December,” Onanuga stated.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that Tinubu approved the deployment of the ambassador-designates after the Senate confirmed 64 ambassadorial nominees.
Among those cleared were former Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau; former presidential aide, Ita Enang; and former Special Adviser on New Media to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri.
Others include former INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu; former Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu.
In all, the Senate confirmed 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners and 30 non-career ambassadors and high commissioners.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass also reports that the posting of Ambassadors comes amid international scrutiny on Nigeria, particularly from the U.S., over Christian genocide.
U.S President Donald Trump had recently designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over religious freedom violations. The U.S also launched airstrikes in Sokoto State on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025.
Some diplomats believe that the Nigeria-U.S. relationship might not have been strained if there had been a capable ambassador effectively representing Nigeria’s interests.
Note: This article has been edited after Tinubu withdrew the ambassadorial designation of former Kebbi State Governor Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman to Turkey.
