The Nigerian Senate has given its official nod to three distinguished individuals for appointment as ambassadors, marking a significant step in the nation's diplomatic appointments.
Senate Endorses Trio of Diplomats
During its plenary session on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, the Senate unanimously approved the nominations put forward for confirmation. The three nominees who received the lawmakers' endorsement are Ayodele Oke, Colonel Kayode Are (retired), and Amin Dalhatu. The approval came after the Senate considered and adopted the report submitted by its Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Committee Report and Plenary Approval
The report was presented on the floor of the Senate by the committee's chairman, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello. Following the presentation, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, put the nominations to a voice vote. All three candidates were endorsed without any dissenting voices from the lawmakers, confirming their appointments as envoys.
Each of the new ambassadors-designate brings a formidable record of public service to their new roles:
- Ayodele Oke is a former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and has previously served as Nigeria's Ambassador to the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.
- Colonel Kayode Are (rtd) is the former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), bringing extensive security and intelligence experience.
- Amin Dalhatu is Nigeria's immediate past Ambassador to South Korea, offering recent and relevant diplomatic experience in a key Asian nation.
Senate President's Charge to the Envoys
In his concluding remarks after the successful confirmation, Senate President Godswill Akpabio addressed the newly approved ambassadors. He urged them to leverage their wealth of experience in the execution of their upcoming diplomatic duties. This charge underscores the high expectations placed on them to represent Nigeria's interests effectively on the global stage.
The swift and unanimous approval by the Senate reflects the confidence the legislative body has in the expertise and backgrounds of Oke, Are, and Dalhatu. Their appointments are poised to strengthen Nigeria's diplomatic missions in their respective postings.
