Abuja, Nigeria
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made a series of key political and economic decisions, including appointing Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, endorsing Lagos Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat for the 2027 governorship race, and securing Senate confirmation for Lamido Yuguda as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The announcements were made on Wednesday through official statements and meetings at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
President Tinubu approved the appointment of Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs following the resignation of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to participate in the 2027 elections.
The development was disclosed by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga. Before her new role, Odumegwu-Ojukwu served as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
In the same announcement, the President nominated Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, pending Senate confirmation. Enikanolaiye previously served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations.
According to Onanuga, the appointments are part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s foreign policy direction, improve global engagement, and build stronger international partnerships. The President also urged the appointees to prioritise national interest, economic diplomacy, regional stability, and the welfare of Nigerians at home and abroad.
In a separate development, President Tinubu formally endorsed Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as the consensus governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 election.
The endorsement came after a meeting with members of the Lagos APC Governance Advisory Council (GAC) at the Presidential Villa. The delegation was led by GAC Chairman Tajudeen Olusi and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Governor Sanwo-Olu described Hamzat as a “reliable partner” and said the endorsement reflects trust and confidence in his ability to lead Lagos.
He added that the decision signals continuity for ongoing development plans in the state, noting that Hamzat is prepared for the responsibility ahead.
The endorsement follows earlier backing from the GAC, which unanimously agreed to adopt Hamzat as the party’s consensus candidate. Olusi explained that while the APC constitution allows for primaries, consensus remains a strategy to ensure unity within the party.
Hamzat, who has served as deputy governor since 2019 and was re-elected in 2023, previously held commissioner roles under both Tinubu and former Governor Babatunde Fashola.
Meanwhile, the Senate has confirmed Lamido Yuguda as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), alongside the appointment of Peggy Onwu as an independent director of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).
The confirmation followed the adoption of a report presented by the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions, chaired by Senator Adetokunbo Abiru.
President Tinubu had nominated Yuguda in March, urging him to serve with professionalism and commitment to Nigeria’s economic stability.
Yuguda brings decades of experience in financial regulation and economic management. He previously served as Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from 2020 to 2024 and began his career at the CBN in 1984.
He has also worked with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and held senior roles within Nigeria’s financial system, including Director of Reserve Management at the apex bank.
These developments come amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections and continued efforts by the federal government to stabilise Nigeria’s economy and strengthen its global standing.
The appointments and endorsements reflect both governance continuity and preparations for future leadership transitions across key sectors.
With new appointments in foreign affairs, political endorsements ahead of 2027, and key economic confirmations, the Tinubu administration continues to shape Nigeria’s leadership structure across diplomacy, politics, and financial governance, setting the tone for the years ahead.