President Bola Tinubu has withdrawn the nomination of former Governor of Kebbi State, Usman Dakingari, as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Turkey, barely a day after the announcement was made.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had on Thursday confirmed President Bola Tinubu’s approval of four ambassadorial postings from a list of over 60 nominees earlier confirmed by the Senate.
According to the initial announcement, Kayode Are, former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), was named ambassador-designate to the United States; Ayodele Oke, former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), was posted to France; Amin Dalhatu, former envoy to South Korea, was appointed High Commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom; while Dakingari was assigned to Turkey.
However, a new statement issued by Onanuga on Friday said no ambassador has been appointed to Turkey, effectively reversing Dakingari’s nomination.
Envoys: Tinubu posts Are to U.S., Oke to France, Dalhatu to UK, Dakingari to Turkey
The presidential spokesman reaffirmed the postings of Are, Oke, and Dalhatu but made no mention of Dakingari, whose appointment was earlier announced ahead of Tinubu’s scheduled state visit to Turkey next week.
No reason was given for the sudden change.
Onanuga added that President Tinubu has formally written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to notify the governments of the United States, France and the United Kingdom of their respective ambassadors-designate, in line with diplomatic protocol.
- ‘Your humility, focus rare’: Otedola visits Abdulsamad Rabiu at BUA office in Dubai - January 23, 2026
- Court sends 25-year-old man to prison for stealing N10,000 yam - January 23, 2026
- Chevron completes Awodi‑07 oil well in Niger Delta - January 23, 2026
