President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the long-awaited deployment of Nigeria’s ambassadors to foreign missions, assigning former presidential aide Reno Omokri to Mexico and former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode to Germany.
The sweeping diplomatic posting, announced on Friday, involves 65 ambassadors who will represent Nigeria in different countries and multilateral organisations across the globe.
Officials said the move is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic footprint and advancing the country’s foreign policy and economic interests.
According to the list, Omokri—who served as an aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan and is widely known for his political commentary—has been designated Nigeria’s ambassador to Mexico, while Fani-Kayode, who was Aviation Minister under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, will represent Nigeria in Germany.
Other notable appointments include former Health Minister Isaac Adewole, who will serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to Canada, and former Interior Minister Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), who has been posted to China.
Businessman and politician Jimoh Ibrahim was named Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, while former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Lateef Kayode Are, has been assigned to the United States mission.
The Presidency disclosed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Nigeria) has already begun the necessary diplomatic processes with host countries, including requests for agrément—the formal approval required before ambassadors can assume duties in their designated nations.
“Some host countries have already granted preliminary approval for the envoys, while others are expected to complete the process in the coming weeks,” officials said.
Before departing for their postings, the ambassadors-designate will also undergo an induction programme organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The new appointments are expected to fill long-standing diplomatic vacancies in several Nigerian missions abroad and strengthen the country’s representation across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas.
The Tinubu administration has repeatedly stressed the importance of economic diplomacy, saying the ambassadors will play a critical role in attracting foreign investment, expanding trade and deepening Nigeria’s global partnerships once they assume office.
