Their appointment as the ambassador to Iran comes six days after the US and Israel launched unprovoked strikes against Iran, which triggered a significant violent crisis in the Middle East.
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Nigerian ambassadors to Iran and Israel amidst ongoing violence and escalating war in the Middle East.
The presidency on Friday announced the posting of Salau Mohammed to Iran and Nkechi Ufochukwu to Israel. They were posted alongside 63 others posted to other countries. All the nominees were confirmed last December by the Senate.
Their appointment as ambassadors comes six days afterthe US and Israel launched an unprovoked strike against Iran, which triggered a significant violent crisis in the Middle East.
PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that at least 1,230 Iranians have been killed in the war. Unlike the 12-day war, which occurred in June 2025, the US and Israel’s missiles are not solely focused on the capital city, Tehran, but have also targeted other major cities.
Iran, in retaliation, targeted American bases in neighbouring Gulf States, drawing in Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar. About 12 people have been killed by Iranian strikes in Israel.
The violence in the region led to the suspension of flight operations, oil exports, and the disruption of energy flows.
Meanwhile, the US government said it envisages that the war would last four weeks or more.
The Ambassadors
President Tinubu’s deployment of the ambassadors comes three years into his administration.
He had recalled the previous ambassadors, including 41 non-career and 42 career diplomats, in September 2023 without stating a specific reason.
Since then, no replacements have been announced, effectively leaving Nigeria without formal high-level representation in several countries.
Consuls-general and chargés d’affaires have been handling diplomatic functions, despite lacking the full authority, especially in high-level negotiations, political representation, and formal diplomatic ceremonies.
The president did not announce new ambassadorial nominees until December 2025, when faced with intense antagonism from the US over allegations of Christian genocide.
It remains unclear if the newly appointed ambassadors to Iran and Israel are expected to depart for their host countries soon or if the ongoing war might hold them back.
Nigeria earlier said it is committed to strengthening bilateral relations with Iran and maintaining diplomatic engagement with the country.
Mr Salau is a career Nigerian diplomat from Niger State, a professional member of Nigeria’s foreign service.
He had previously represented Nigeria in the Gulf region, particularly Qatar, according to media reports.
Ms Ufochukwu, on the other hand, is a non-career diplomat who previously served as Special Adviser (Legal) to the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology.
President Tinubu also appointed Lateef Are, a career diplomat, as the Nigerian ambassador to the US.
Following their appointment, the newly appointed ambassadors will have to receive diplomatic agrément — a formal approval required before an envoy can present credentials— from their host country before assuming duty.
NON-CAREER AMBASSADORS / HIGH COMMISSIONERS
SENATOR GRACE BENT: LOME-TOGO
SEN. ITA ENANG: SOUTH AFRICA
IKPEAZU VICTOR: SPAIN
NKECHI LINDA UFOCHUKWU: TEL-AVIV, ISRAEL
MAHMUD YAKUBU: QATAR
PAUL OGA ADIKWU: THE VATICAN CITY HOLY SEE
VICE ADMIRAL IBOK-ETE EKWE IBAS: THE PHILIPPINES
MR. RENO OMOKRI: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
HON. (ENGR.) ABASI BRAIMAH (FMHR): BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
MRS. ERELU ANGELA ADEBAYO: PORTUGAL
BARR. OLUMILUA OLUWAYIMIKA AYOTUNWA: TOKYO, JAPAN
RT. HON. UGWUANYI IFEANYI LAWRENCE: ATHENS, GREECE
BARR. CHIOMA PRISCILLA OHAKIM: WARSAW, POLAND
AMINU DALHATU: UNITED KINGDOM, UK
LT. GEN ABDULRAHMAN BELLO DAMBAZAU: BEIJING, CHINA
HON. TASIU MUSA MAIGARI: GAMBIA
OLUFEMI PEDRO: AUSTRALIA
BARR. MUHAMMED UBANDOMA ALIYU: ARGENTINA
LATEEF KAYODE ARE: USA
AMB. JOSEPH SOLA IJI: RUSSIA
SEN. JIMOH IBRAHIM: UN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE
FEMI FANI KAYODE: GERMANY
PROF. ISAAK FOLORUNSO ADEWOLE: OTTAWA, CANADA
AJIMOBI FATIMA FLORENCE (F): AUSTRIA
MRS. LOLA AKANDE (F): SWEDEN
AYODELE OKE: FRANCE
YAKUBU N. GAMBO: SAUDI ARABIA
SENATOR PROF. NORA LADI DADUUT: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
BARR. ONUEZE CHUKWUJIKA JOE OKOCHA SAN: DUBLIN
DR. KULU HARUNA ABUBAKAR: TUNIS, TUNISIA
RT. HON. JERRY SAMUEL MANWE: PORT OF SPAIN, T&T
CAREER AMBASSADORS / HIGH COMMISSIONERS
AMB. NWABIOLA EZENWA CHUKWUMEKA: COTE D’IV/OIRE
BESTO MAIMUNA IBRAHIM: NIAMEY-NIGER
MONICA OKWUCHUKWU ENEBECHI: SAO TOME, STP
AMB. MOHAMMED MAHMUD LELE: ALGIERS-ALGERIA
ENDONI SYNDOPH PAEBI: OUAGADOUGOU-BURKINA FASO
AHMED MOHAMMED MONGUNO: CAIRO EGYPT
AMB.JANE ADAMS (NEE OKON) MICHAEL (F): KINGSTON-JAMAICA
AMB. CLARK-OMERU ALEXANDRA (F): LUSAKA-ZAMBIA
CHIMA GEOGGREY LIOMA DAVID: BAMAKO-MALI
AMB. ODUMAH YVONNE EHINOSEN: MALABO –E/GUINEA
AMB WASA SEGUN IGE: BEIRUT, LEBANON
RUBEN ABIMBOLA SAMUEL (F): ROME, ITALY
AMB.ONAGA OGECHUKWU KINGSLEY: MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE
AMB.MAGAJI UMAR: KINSASHA, DR CONGO
AMB.MUHAMMAD SAIDU DAHIRU: NEW DELHI-INDIA
AMB. ABDUSSALAM HABU ZAYYAD: DAKAR-SENEGAL
AMB SHEHU ILU BARDE: ACCRA GHANA
AMB.AMINU NASIR: ETHIOPIA
ABUBAKAR MUSA MUSA: N’DJAMENA, CHAD
AMB. HAIDARA MOHAMMED IDRIS: THE HAGUE-NETHERLANDS
AMB.BAKO ADAMU UMAR: RABAT-MOROCCO
AMB. SULU GAMBARI OLATUNJI AHMED: MALAYSIA
AMB.ROMATA MOHAMMED OMOBOLANLE (F): TANZANIA
AMB. SHAGA JOHN SHAMAH: BOTSWANA
SALAU, HAMZA MOHAMMED: TEHRAN, IRAN
AMB.IBRAHIM DANLAMI: KENYA
IBRAHIM ADEOLA MOPELOLA (F): COTONOU-BENIN
AMB.AYENI ADEBAYO EMMANUEL: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
AMB.AKANDE WAHAB ADEKOLA: BERNE-SWITZERLAND
AMB. AREWA (NEE ADEDOKUN) ESTHER (F): WINDHOEK-NAMIBIA
AMB.GERGADI JOSEPH JOHN: LIBREVILLE-GABON
AMB. LUTHER OGBOMODE AYO-KALATA (F): SIERRA LEONE
DANLADI YAKUBU NYAKU : KHARTOUM-SUDAN
BELLO DOGON-DAJI HALIRU: BANGKOK, THAILAND
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