Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd) has been named Nigeria’s Ambassador to  Benin Republic.

Similarly, the immediate  past Chief of Defence Staff,  Gen Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (rtd) was named head of the Nigerian mission in  Cameroon.

This was contained in a statement issued by  the information officer of the Ministry of  Foreign Affairs, Mr Kimiebi Ebienfa. 

According to the statement, Letters of Credence were presented to the ex-service chiefs on Tuesday by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema. 

The statement was however silent  on former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ibok- Ette Ibas (retd) and  ex-Chief of Air Staff Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retd).

The statement read: "The Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Geoffrey Onyeama today 22 June 2021, presented Letters of Credence to the Ambassador-Designate of Nigeria to the Republic of Cameroon, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (Retired) and the Ambassador-Designate of Nigeria to the Republic of Benin, Lt.Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (Retired).

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs during the brief ceremony congratulated the immediate past service chiefs on their appointment by Mr. President and called on them to deploy their wealth of experience to promote Nigeria’s interest during their tour of duty in countries of accreditation,” he said in a statement.”

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari nominated the immediate past service chiefs of the country for Ambassadorial positions.

The former service chiefs' nominations came nine days after Buhari replaced them – having spearheaded the country’s security agencies for over five years.