FG issues letters of credence to UK, France, UN ambassadors-designate

The minister of state for foreign affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has presented Letters of Credence to three ambassadors-designate, authorising them to represent Nigeria in their respective postings.

The recipients are Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu (United Kingdom), Ambassador Ayodele Oke (France), and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Permanent Representative-designate to the United Nations in New York.

Presenting the documents on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said she was honoured to formally accredit the envoys.

She explained that Letters of Credence are official documents issued by a Head of State to introduce and accredit ambassadors to host countries.

“In diplomatic practice, Letters of Commission (more commonly referred to as Letters of Credence),  are formal, physical letters issued by a Head of State or head of government to another Head of State, introducing a newly appointed ambassador or high commissioner and officially accrediting a diplomat to a foreign nation, authorizing them to represent their home country’s interests and act on its behalf, and requesting the host country to give “credence” (trust) to that representative,” she wrote on X on Tuesday.

The minister congratulated the envoys and wished them a successful tour of duty.

The presentation follows the approval of 65 ambassadors and high commissioners by President Tinubu. According to his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, 31 non-career and 34 career diplomats were deployed after their confirmation by the Senate in December 2025.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since begun induction for the envoys, who are expected to assume duty after receiving agreement from their host countries.