OBy Enyichukwu Enemanna
Nigerian government on Friday released the posting of new ambassadors who will serve at the country’s foreign missions across the world, two months after their nominations and screening by the Senate.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the posting of his former critics, Reno Omokri as Nigeria’s envoy to Mexico while a former presidential adviser who has been critical of Donald Trump’s policies on Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode was posted to Germany, a presidency release indicates on Friday.
Similarly, wife of late former governor of Oyo, Fatima Florence Ajimobi has been assigned to Austria.
The appointments form part of a broader diplomatic deployment approved by President Tinubu, involving 65 ambassadors to various countries and international missions.
The list comprises 31 career diplomats and 34 non-career ambassadors whose nominations were earlier confirmed by the Nigerian Senate in December.
Among the non-career ambassadors approved for foreign postings are Senator Grace Bent to Lome, Togo; Senator Ita Enang to South Africa; Victor Ikpeazu to Spain; Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu to Tel-Aviv, Israel; and Mahmoud Yakubu to Qatar.
Others include Paul Oga Adikwu to The Vatican City, Holy See; Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas to the Philippines; Hon. (Engr.) Abasi Braimah (FMHR) to Budapest, Hungary; and Mrs Erelu Angela Adebayo to Portugal.
Barrister Olumilua Oluwayimika Ayotunwa has been posted to Tokyo, Japan; Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi to Athens, Greece; Barrister Chioma Priscilla Ohakim to Warsaw, Poland; and Aminu Dalhatu to the United Kingdom.
Also on the list are Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau to Beijing, China; Hon. Tasiu Musa Maigari to Gambia; Olufemi Pedro to Australia; Barrister Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu to Argentina; and Lateef Kayode Are to the United States.
Ambassador Joseph Sola Iji has been posted to Russia, while Senator Jimoh Ibrahim will serve as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Also, Prof. Isaak Folorunso Adewole will serve in Ottawa, Canada.
Others include Mrs Lola Akande to Sweden; Ayodele Oke to France; Yakubu N. Gambo to Saudi Arabia; Senator Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut to Seoul, South Korea; Barrister Onueze Chukwujika Joe Okocha, SAN, to Dublin; Dr Kulu Haruna Abubakar to Tunis, Tunisia; and Rt. Hon. Jerry Samuel Manwe to Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
The President also approved the deployment of career ambassadors to several missions across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Among them are Ambassador Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka to Cote d’Ivoire; Besto Maimuna Ibrahim to Niamey, Niger; Monica Okwuchukwu Enebechi to Sao Tome and Principe; Ambassador Mohammed Mahmud Lele to Algiers, Algeria; and Endoni Syndoph Paebi to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Others include Ahmed Mohammed Monguno to Cairo, Egypt; Ambassador Jane Adams (nee Okon) Michael to Kingston, Jamaica; Ambassador Clark-Omeru Alexandra to Lusaka, Zambia; Chima Geoffrey Lioma David to Bamako, Mali; and Ambassador Odumah Yvonne Ehinosen to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Ambassador Wasa Segun Ige has been posted to Beirut, Lebanon; Ruben Abimbola Samuel to Rome, Italy; Ambassador Onaga Ogechukwu Kingsley to Maputo, Mozambique; Ambassador Magaji Umar to Kinshasa, DR Congo; and Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru to New Delhi, India.
Also included are Ambassador Abdussalam Habu Zayyad to Dakar, Senegal; Ambassador Shehu Ilu Barde to Accra, Ghana; Ambassador Aminu Nasir to Ethiopia; Abubakar Musa Musa to N’Djamena, Chad; and Ambassador Haidara Mohammed Idris to The Hague, Netherlands.
Further postings include Ambassador Bako Adamu Umar to Rabat, Morocco; Ambassador Sulu Gambari Olatunji Ahmed to Malaysia; Ambassador Romata Mohammed Omobolanle to Tanzania; Ambassador Shaga John Shamah to Botswana; and Salau Hamza Mohammed to Tehran, Iran.
Ambassador Ibrahim Danlami has been posted to Kenya; Ibrahim Adeola Mopelola to Cotonou, Benin; Ambassador Ayeni Adebayo Emmanuel to Brussels, Belgium; Ambassador Akande Wahab Adekola to Berne, Switzerland; and Ambassador Arewa (nee Adedokun) Esther to Windhoek, Namibia.
Others are Ambassador Gergadi Joseph John to Libreville, Gabon; Ambassador Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata to Sierra Leone; Danladi Yakubu Nyaku to Khartoum, Sudan; and Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru to Bangkok, Thailand.
The Presidency also disclosed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already received agrément from the United Kingdom for the High Commissioner-designate, Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu.
Similarly, the French government has conveyed agrément for Ambassador Ayo Oke.
The ministry has also forwarded the nominations of the other 62 designated envoys to their respective host countries and international organisations, requesting agrément in line with standard diplomatic practice.
President Tinubu directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to commence the induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners as preparations begin for their deployment to their respective missions
