By Amofokhai Williams
President Bola Tinubu has approved the posting of three ambassadors-designate to strategic diplomatic missions, marking the first set of foreign postings from the 68 nominees earlier confirmed by the Senate.
The approval, conveyed in an official memo to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, directs the ministry to formally notify the host countries in line with established diplomatic procedures.
Also approved is the posting of Ayodele Oke as ambassador-designate to France, a country with longstanding political, economic and security ties with Nigeria. France remains a key partner in trade, defence cooperation and regional security in West Africa.
In another major diplomatic assignment, Lateef Are, a colonel, has been named ambassador-designate to the United States of America, Nigeria’s most significant bilateral partner.
The US mission is regarded as one of Nigeria’s most critical postings, given deep cooperation in security, trade, education and diaspora relations.
President Tinubu also approved the posting of Amin Dalhatu, a former ambassador to South Korea, as high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom. The UK remains central to Nigeria’s diplomatic priorities, particularly in trade, migration, education and defence collaboration.
The three postings are the first to be announced from the batch of 68 ambassadors-designate confirmed by the Senate in December, following months of anticipation over Nigeria’s diplomatic representation abroad.
In the memo signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, President Tinubu instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to commence the necessary diplomatic engagements with the receiving countries.
The development signals the administration’s intention to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic presence in major global capitals, deepen bilateral relations and reposition the country’s foreign missions to support economic diplomacy, investment attraction and strategic partnerships under the Tinubu administration.
