Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s new substantive Minister of Foreign Affairs, elevating the former Minister of State to the top diplomatic post following the resignation of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to pursue the Bauchi State governorship election in 2027.
The President also nominated Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, a career diplomat with over three decades of experience, as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs pending Senate confirmation. The announcement was made in a statement issued on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, and represents a major restructuring of the country’s foreign policy leadership amid a critical election season.
The elevation of Odumegwu‑Ojukwu is a home‑grown promotion that brings continuity to Nigeria’s diplomatic machinery at a time of significant political and economic transitions. She had served as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs before her new appointment, a role that kept her at the centre of the administration’s foreign policy engagements. Her predecessor, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, resigned from the cabinet in March 2026 in compliance with President Tinubu’s directive that all political appointees seeking elective office must step down. Tuggar has since declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Bauchi State under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, nominated as the new Minister of State, brings a distinguished track record to the foreign affairs ministry.
Until his nomination, he served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations. He is a seasoned diplomat with over thirty years of service in Nigeria’s foreign service, and he has previously served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His diplomatic postings include assignments in Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Ottawa, London, and New Delhi, giving him a broad understanding of Nigeria’s bilateral and multilateral relationships across continents.
In the official statement announcing the appointments, the Presidency explained that the changes are part of ongoing efforts to reposition Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture for greater efficiency, strategic engagement, and stronger global partnerships. President Tinubu congratulated both appointees and charged them to work diligently to promote Nigeria’s national interest, advance economic diplomacy, foster regional stability, and safeguard the welfare of Nigerians at home and abroad.
The appointments are seen as a deft political move that both respects the legal framework for a cabinet reshuffle ahead of the 2027 elections and strengthens the professional core of Nigeria’s diplomatic corps at a sensitive time. The nomination of Enikanolaiye is subject to Senate confirmation, but Odumegwu‑Ojukwu’s appointment takes effect immediately.
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