November 26, (THEWILL) — President Bola Tinubu has nominated three seasoned diplomats and security experts as non-career ambassadors to represent Nigeria in the United States, the United Kingdom and France, with their postings to be finalised after Senate screening.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the nominees include Ambassador Ayodele Oke, Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are, and Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu—each bringing decades of experience in intelligence, diplomacy and national security.
Ambassador Dalhatu, nominated to serve in France, previously represented Nigeria as ambassador to South Korea under former President, Muhammadu Buhari, after his appointment in 2016. His return to the diplomatic frontline is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s bilateral and trade engagements with strategic partners.
Ambassador Oke, tapped for the United Kingdom, is an alumnus of Emory University in Atlanta and a former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). He also served as Nigeria’s ambassador to the Secretariat of the Commonwealth of Nations in London, an experience that government officials say positions him to effectively steer relations with one of Nigeria’s closest allies.
For the United States, President Tinubu has nominated Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are, a respected intelligence professional who served as Director General of the State Security Service (SSS) from 1999 to 2007. Are, who later became National Security Adviser in 2010, is also a First-Class graduate of Psychology from the University of Ibadan. His extensive security background is viewed as a strategic asset as Nigeria navigates complex global and regional security dynamics.
The presidency said the nominations are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic outreach and reinforce partnerships with countries critical to its economic and security priorities. The Senate is expected to announce a screening schedule in the coming days.
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