President Bola Tinubu has authorised the deployment of three ambassador-designates to strategic diplomatic missions in France, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
The development 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 three ambassador-designates out of the 68 confirmed by the Senate last December,” Onanuga said.
Ambassador Ayodele Oke
According to the statement, Ambassador Ayodele Oke has been assigned to France, while Colonel Lateef Are will represent Nigeria as ambassador to the United States.
“The posting of Ambassador Ayodele Oke to France and Colonel Lateef Are to the United States has been confirmed by the President,” Onanuga stated.
Colonel Lateef Are
President Tinubu also approved the posting of Ambassador Amin Dalhatu as high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom.
“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.
Onanuga disclosed that the approvals have been officially transmitted 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.
Former Nigerian ambassador to South Korea, Ambassador Amin Dalhatu
He noted that the appointments were selected from the pool of ambassadorial nominees earlier screened and confirmed by the National Assembly.
“These postings are part of the ambassadorial nominees confirmed by the Senate in December,” Onanuga added.
The presidential spokesman also clarified an earlier announcement regarding the posting of a former governor of Kebbi State, Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman, as ambassador-designate to Turkey.
Onanuga said a follow-up statement was issued a few hours later to correct the error, stressing that the proposed posting to Turkey is still under review.
