President Bola Tinubu has approved the posting of four ambassador-designates, marking a significant diplomatic move. The appointments include Ambassador Ayodele Oke as the ambassador-designate to France and Colonel Lateef Are as the ambassador-designate to the United States of America. Additionally, Ambassador Amin Dalhatu, a former ambassador to South Korea, is now the high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom. The fourth appointment is Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman, the former governor of Kebbi, as the ambassador-designate to Turkey, where President Tinubu is set to embark on a state visit next week. These appointments come after a long-standing issue of vacancies at overseas missions, with the initial list of nominees sent to the Senate in November 2022 and further additions in November 2023. The Senate confirmed 64 ambassadorial nominees in December, bringing the total to 67. The remaining nominees include notable figures such as Reno Omokri, Mahmood Yakubu, Femi Fani-Kayode, and Fatima Florence Ajimobi. These appointments are a crucial step in strengthening diplomatic relations and addressing the long-awaited vacancies.
