In a swift reversal, the Nigerian Presidency has withdrawn the ambassadorial posting of former Kebbi State Governor Usman Sa’idu Nasamu Dakingari to Turkey, less than 24 hours after the initial announcement.
Recall, Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga had confirmed on Thursday that President Bola Tinubu approved Dakingari alongside three other envoys, drawn from a pool of over 60 nominees cleared by the Senate in December2025.
President Bola Tinubu has tapped a veteran security team for Nigeria’s top diplomatic missions, appointing former DSS Director-General Kayode Are as ambassador-designate to the United States and former NIA chief Ayodele Oke to France. Rounding out the high-profile list were Amin Dalhatu, a former envoy to South Korea, named High Commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom, and former Kebbi Governor Usman Dakingari, designated for Turkey. Dakingari’s appointment was strategically timed to precede President Tinubu’s upcoming state visit to Turkey next week.
By Friday, January 23, the State House issued a swift clarification through spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, stating that the ambassadorial seat in Turkey remains vacant. While the Presidency reaffirmed the high-profile postings to the U.S., France, and the UK, Usman Dakingari’s name was conspicuously absent from the revised list, with no official explanation offered for the sudden reversal.
However, Bayo Onanuga confirmed that President Tinubu has already formally notified the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to begin the diplomatic process of alerting the host governments in Washington, Paris, and London.
