After months of diplomatic quiet and interim leadership in Nigeria’s foreign missions, the country is gradually reclaiming its voice on the global stage.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the posting of four ambassadors to some of Nigeria’s most strategic international partners—the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Türkiye—signalling a renewed push to strengthen the nation’s diplomatic footprint.
The newly appointed envoys are Colonel Lateef Are to the United States, Ambassador Amin Dalhatu to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Ayodele Oke to France, and Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman to Türkiye.
Confirming the development, a senior government official said the postings mark the beginning of a broader diplomatic reset.
“This is part of a deliberate effort to restore Nigeria’s diplomatic presence in key global capitals and reposition the country’s foreign policy architecture,” the official said.
Since 2023, Nigeria has operated without substantive ambassadors in many strategic missions, leaving several embassies under acting leadership. The situation had raised concerns about diminished influence at a time of heightened global competition and economic uncertainty.
A former diplomat described the new postings as overdue.
“You cannot effectively project national interests abroad without fully empowered ambassadors. These appointments signal that Nigeria is ready to re-engage the world more strategically,” he said.
The four countries involved—Washington, London, Paris and Ankara—are not only traditional allies but also centres of global political power, security cooperation, and economic diplomacy.
The Türkiye appointment carries added significance, coming ahead of President Tinubu’s planned state visit to Ankara. According to officials, the move reflects a deliberate attempt to align diplomatic representation with high-level political engagement.
“It shows that Nigeria is synchronising diplomacy with presidential diplomacy and economic outreach,” a foreign policy analyst noted.
The postings are part of a wider process following the Senate’s confirmation of over 60 ambassadorial nominees in December, paving the way for a gradual redeployment of Nigeria’s diplomatic corps across the world.
