President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed former presidential aide Reno Omokri as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mexico and former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode as Ambassador to Germany in a major diplomatic redeployment that includes 65 envoys.
The appointments form part of the postings of 31 career diplomats and 34 non-career ambassadors approved by the president, following their confirmation by the Senate in December last year.
The announcement was contained in a State House statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The appointments have sparked significant political interest, particularly with the inclusion of several prominent political figures and former government officials.
Aside from Omokri and Fani-Kayode, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim was appointed Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, while former Lagos State Deputy Governor Olufemi Pedro was posted to Australia.
Former Interior Minister Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau was named ambassador to China, while former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was posted to Spain.
Other notable appointments include Senator Ita Enang to South Africa, former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu to Qatar and Lateef Kayode Are to the United States.
Senator Grace Bent was assigned to Togo, while former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi will represent Nigeria in Greece.
Former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, was posted to Canada, while Senator Nora Ladi Daduut was assigned to South Korea.
Fatima Florence Ajimobi will serve as Nigeria’s envoy to Austria, while Barrister Onueze Chukwujika Joe Okocha was posted to Ireland.
Meanwhile, the list of career diplomats posted to various missions across the world includes Ambassador Ahmed Monguno to Egypt, Ambassador Abdussalam Habu Zayyad to Senegal and Ambassador Bako Adamu Umar to Morocco.
Others include Ambassador Segun Ige to Lebanon, Ambassador Ibrahim Danlami to Kenya, Ambassador Haidara Mohammed Idris to the Netherlands and Ambassador Ayeni Adebayo Emmanuel to Belgium.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already received agrément from the United Kingdom approving Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to London.
Similarly, France has granted diplomatic approval for Ambassador Ayo Oke as Nigeria’s envoy to Paris.
According to the presidency, the remaining ambassadorial nominations have been forwarded to their respective host countries for agrément in line with standard diplomatic procedures.
President Tinubu has also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to commence the induction programme for the ambassadors and high commissioners ahead of their deployment.
Diplomatic observers say the postings represent one of the most extensive ambassadorial redeployments in recent years as the administration seeks to reposition Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement across key global capitals.
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