The Presidency has withdrawn the posting of former Kebbi State Governor, Usman Dakingari, as ambassador designate to Turkey. The announcement was made by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Friday. The statement noted that no ambassador has currently been appointed to Turkey.
This development comes hours after the Presidency announced other ambassadorial postings. President Tinubu had approved the posting of four ambassador designates out of the 68 confirmed by the Senate last December.
The statement confirmed Ambassador Ayodele Oke as ambassador designate to France, Colonel Lateef Are as ambassador designate to the United States, and Ambassador Amin Dalhatu, former ambassador to South Korea, as high commissioner designate to the United Kingdom.
Dakingari’s appointment to Turkey, which had been linked to a scheduled state visit by the President, was omitted from the latest announcement. The Presidency did not provide a reason for the withdrawal of his posting.
Onanuga added that President Tinubu has written a memo to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to notify the governments of the three countries, France, the United States, and the United Kingdom, about the ambassador designates, in line with established diplomatic procedures.
The decision underscores the ongoing process by the Tinubu administration to finalize key diplomatic appointments while ensuring that Nigeria’s foreign missions are staffed according to established protocols.
