ADC kicks as President posts 65 ambassadors

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President Bola Tinubu has approved the deployment of 65 ambassadors-designate and high commissioners to Nigeria’s diplomatic missions across the world, nearly three months after the Senate confirmed the nominees.

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The postings, announced on Friday 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 and the Americas, as well as multilateral organisations such as the United Nations.

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Among the high-profile non-career appointments announced by the Presidency are former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, who has been posted to Germany, and ex-presidential aide, Reno Omokri, assigned to Mexico.

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Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, will serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to China, while businessman and senator from Ondo State, Jimoh Ibrahim, has been posted as the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

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Other notable postings include Senator Ita Enang to South Africa, former Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu (Spain), and former Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole (Canada).

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Also on the list are Lateef Kayode Are, who will represent Nigeria in the United States, and Aminu Dalhatu, a close associate of the President, who has been appointed High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

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Former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayodele Oke, was posted to France, while the wife of the late governor of Oyo State, Fatima Ajimobi, will serve in Vienna, Austria.

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Other diplomatic postings include Mrs Lola Akande to Sweden, Joe-Kyari Okocha, SAN, to Ireland, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas to the Philippines, Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu to Israel, Mahmud Yakubu to Qatar, and Yakubu Gambo to Saudi Arabia.

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The list also features Senator Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut posted to South Korea, and Dr Kulu Haruna Abubakar assigned to Tunisia.

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Other non-career diplomats include Olufemi Pedro to Australia, Chioma Ohakim to Poland, Erelu Angela Adebayo to Portugal, and Oluwayimika Ayotunwa to Japan.

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The remaining postings include assignments to Argentina, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, among others.

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The President also approved postings for several career diplomats drawn from the country’s foreign service.

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Among them are Ambassador Mohammed Mahmud Lele posted to Algeria, Ambassador Shehu Barde to Ghana, and Ambassador Aminu Nasir to Ethiopia.

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Others include Ambassador Ibrahim Danlami to Kenya, Ambassador Ayeni Adebayo to Belgium, and Ambassador Akande Wahab to Switzerland.

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Additional career postings include Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno to Egypt, Ambassador Jane Adams to Jamaica, and Ambassador Clark-Omeru Alexandra to Zambia.

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Further assignments include Ambassador Abdussalam Habu Zayyad to Senegal, Ambassador Haidara Mohammed Idris to The Hague, and Ambassador Bako Adamu Umar to Morocco.

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Other diplomats will serve in Malaysia, Tanzania, Botswana, Iran, Benin Republic, Lebanon, Italy, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia and several other countries.

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According to the Presidency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already secured agrément from the United Kingdom for the High Commissioner-designate, Aminu Dalhatu, and from France for Ambassador Ayodele Oke.

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“The ministry has also conveyed the nominations of the other 62 designated envoys to the countries concerned, including requests for agrément in line with standard diplomatic practice,” Onanuga said.

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Agrément is the formal consent given by a receiving country before a foreign government can appoint an ambassador or head of mission.

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Tinubu also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to commence an induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners before they proceed to their duty posts.

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Nigeria maintains diplomatic missions in over 100 countries worldwide, including embassies, high commissions and consulates that manage bilateral relations, promote trade and represent the country in multilateral organisations.

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However, many of Nigeria’s foreign missions have operated without substantive ambassadors for several years following the recall of envoys appointed under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

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The last major ambassadorial postings were made in 2017, leaving numerous diplomatic missions headed by chargé d’affaires rather than full ambassadors.

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The Senate had confirmed the 65 ambassadorial nominees in December 2025 after screening them through the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

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Under diplomatic protocol, ambassadors-designate must undergo an induction programme and obtain agrément from their host countries before they can formally assume their duties.

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With the new postings announced, the envoys are expected to begin preparations for deployment once the required diplomatic clearances are obtained.

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ADC faults posting

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Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress has criticised President Bola Tinubu for announcing only 65 of 109 ambassadorial postings, describing the move as a diplomatic blunder.

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ADC said the development exposed the country to embarrassment and reflected the government’s incompetence in handling international relations.

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The party also questioned why the government remained silent on the remaining 44 diplomatic missions without designated envoys, warning that the development could weaken Nigeria’s international presence.

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In a statement issued on Friday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the administration had “put the cart before the horse” by publicly announcing ambassadorial postings before obtaining agrément from host countries.

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According to Abdullahi, the move contradicts the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, particularly Article 4, which requires a sending state to secure the consent of the receiving country before announcing the appointment of an ambassador.

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“Under the Vienna Convention, a sending state must first obtain the consent of the receiving state before officially appointing or announcing a head of mission.

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“By announcing the appointments and then requesting consent, it suggests the government does not understand the basic protocol of diplomatic relations,” he said.

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The ADC spokesperson warned that a host country could reject a nominee after conducting background checks, potentially exposing Nigeria to diplomatic embarrassment.

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“It is precisely to avoid such embarrassment that agrément requests are typically handled quietly through diplomatic channels before any public announcement is made,” he added.

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The party also raised questions about the 44 diplomatic missions that were not included in the announcement, questioning why it took the government more than three months after Senate confirmation of the nominees to begin seeking agrément from host countries.

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“Nigeria maintains 109 diplomatic missions around the world, yet the government has announced only 65 ambassadors. What happens to the remaining 44 missions?” Abdullahi asked.

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“Are those posts to remain vacant indefinitely while Nigeria’s diplomatic presence continues to shrink at a time of rising global uncertainty?” he queried.

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Ex-envoys back Tinubu

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Meanwhile, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, has commended the President over the deployment of the ambassadors to foreign missions, describing the move as long-awaited.

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Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, Amedu-Ode said the President had the constitutional prerogative to appoint and deploy envoys to various countries based on their capacity and competence.

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He noted that the decision to post ambassadors, even to countries experiencing conflict, was appropriate as long as diplomatic relations between the nations remain intact.

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“It is a much-awaited action by Mr President, and it is a job well done even if it is the first time of his administration.

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“The President reserves the prerogative of appointing ambassadors and sending them to various foreign missions. He knows the capacity and capability of those he appointed and therefore deploys them to the best of his ability,” he said.

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Speaking further, the former envoy added that maintaining diplomatic presence in countries facing conflict did not amount to endorsement of the crisis but rather reflects the need to sustain bilateral relations.

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“That a country is at war does not mean you cannot deploy your representatives there because we haven’t broken our relationship with them.

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“To deploy an ambassador there is right and proper because anything otherwise the receiving state may view it as an unfriendly act,” he added.

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Also speaking with Saturday PUNCH, a former Nigerian Consul to Cameroon and delegate to the World Expo and Economic Development Centre in Paris, Rasheed Akinkuolie, described the posting as belated but necessary, urging the new envoys to move swiftly to recover lost diplomatic ground.

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Akinkuolie said although the appointments came later than expected, it was still preferable to ensure Nigeria’s diplomatic missions were fully staffed.

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He said diplomatic practice usually requires that outgoing ambassadors remain at their posts until their successors are named and accepted by host countries.

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“The posting of the ambassadors is rather late, but it is better late than never. The causes of the long delay in the posting should be identified and addressed to prevent a recurrence in future.

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“Ambassadors are generally not recalled until their replacements have been named. Outgoing ambassadors should normally be at post to process the agrément or document of acceptance of the incoming ambassador by the host country,” he explained.

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Akinkuolie, however, expressed confidence in the competence of the career diplomats among the newly posted envoys, noting that most of them had spent decades in the foreign service.

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“As regards the ability and competence of the ambassadors, I can vouch for the capability of the career officers, most of whom have been in the service for 20 to 30 years and are highly experienced.

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“It is almost impossible to attain that rank with serious character and ability flaws. They will do well as expected,” he said.

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The former diplomat advised the political appointees to work closely with experienced officers within the missions, particularly Deputy Heads of Mission and Heads of Chancery, who typically have extensive diplomatic experience.

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He also cautioned against domineering leadership styles, warning that strained relationships with mission staff could undermine the effectiveness of an ambassador.

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“Non-career ambassadors should work amicably with the career officers, especially the Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Chancery, who have previously worked in several missions.

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“They should not be overbearing at post but should seek guidance and opinions of officers when necessary. A harsh ambassador with a poor relationship with officers and local staff will have a tough time at post,” Akinkuolie noted.

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Omokri hails Tinubu

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Meanwhile, Omokri has expressed gratitude to Tinubu following his appointment, pledging loyalty to the country and commitment to promoting Nigeria’s interests abroad.

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Omokri, in a statement on Friday, described Tinubu as a leader with the capacity to forgive and lead the country through its current challenges, while accepting the appointment as an opportunity to serve the nation.

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“I sincerely thank President Bola Tinubu, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for my ambassadorial posting,” he said.

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“This is a man with a heart of gold, and as I have previously said, the President is a most Christlike individual, with the capacity to forgive and forbear. Nigeria could not have had a better leader for the present time and for the next five years, by the grace of God.”

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He said he accepted the posting to serve Nigeria faithfully and pledged his loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to the President.

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“I accept this appointment and posting to the glory of God and for the betterment of Nigeria, even as I pledge my unalloyed loyalty to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the custodian of the Constitution and the Head of State of Nigeria,” he said.

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