Nigeria’s newly appointed ambassador-designate to Algeria Mohammed Lele has died at the age of 50.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by its spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa.
According to the ministry, Mr Lele died in the early hours of Monday, April 19, in Ankara, Türkiye, after an illness.
“The late Ambassador Lele, until his death, was the director in charge of the Middle East and Gulf Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the statement said.
It added that he was recently appointed by President Bola Tinubu as ambassador-designate to Algeria after confirmation by the Senate.
Mohammed Lele was born in Gamawa, Bauchi State, in 1976.
He studied economics at Bayero University, Kano and served in Nigerian missions in Berlin, Lomé and Riyadh.
“Ambassador Lele was known for his intellectual depth, strategic insight and commitment to the advancement of Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives,” the statement said.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Dunoma Ahmed received the remains of the late diplomat at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Mr Ahmed described him as “a hardworking, humble and fine officer, who will be sorely missed by the ministry.”
The ministry said his death is a loss to his family, the foreign service and the country.
Lele was buried on Wednesday in Kano in line with Islamic rites.
The government also extended condolences to his family, associates and the government and people of Bauchi State.
