President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the deployment of key Nigerian ambassadors to the United States, France, and the United Kingdom following their confirmation by the Senate in December.
The announcement confirms Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (rtd) as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States of America. Colonel Are is a retired army officer and former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), bringing extensive security and intelligence experience to one of Nigeria’s most strategic diplomatic missions.
Ambassador Ayodele Oke has been designated as Nigeria’s Ambassador to France. Oke previously served as Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), a background that underscores the administration’s focus on leveraging security expertise in foreign policy engagements.
Also approved is Ambassador Amin Dalhatu as High Commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom. A seasoned career diplomat, Dalhatu formerly represented Nigeria as Ambassador to South Korea and is expected to strengthen bilateral relations with the UK, particularly in trade, diplomacy, and diaspora affairs.
The postings are part of a broader list of 68 ambassadorial nominees confirmed by the Senate last year, reflecting President Tinubu’s effort to reposition Nigeria’s diplomatic missions amid ongoing security and economic challenges.
In addition, Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman, a former governor of Kebbi State, has been named Ambassador-designate to Turkey. However, his posting is still under review following a naming clarification, even as President Tinubu prepares for an upcoming state visit to the country.
The latest appointments signal the administration’s intent to align Nigeria’s foreign missions with experienced figures capable of advancing national interests on the global stage.