Presidency U-Turn Hours After Dakingari’s Turkey Posting, No Ambassador Yet – Tinubu Confirms Only Three Ambassadorial Appointments

Abuja, Nigeria– The Presidency has reversed earlier indications that former Kebbi State Governor Usman Dakingari had been posted as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Turkey, hours after the announcement.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the posting of three ambassadors-designate, out of the 68 nominees confirmed by the Senate last December.

This latest development was confirmed by the President’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, in statements released on Thursday night and Friday.

According to Onanuga, the President approved the posting of: Kayode Are, former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to the United States;

Ayodele Oke, former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), as ambassador-designate to France and Amin Dalhatu, former ambassador to South Korea, as high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom.

Earlier reports had included Dakingari as ambassador-designate to Turkey.

However, in a clarification issued on Friday, Onanuga confirmed that no ambassador has been appointed to Turkey, signaling a presidential U-turn on the posting.

President Tinubu, in a memo to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, directed that the governments of the three countries—France, the United States, and the United Kingdom—be officially notified about the appointments of the ambassadors-designate in accordance with diplomatic procedures.