Mohammed Mahmud Lele, the recently appointed Nigerian Ambassador-designate to Algeria, has tragically passed away.
He died in the early hours of April 19 in Ankara, Türkiye, at the age of 50, following a prolonged illness.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on April 22 confirming his death, which occurred just days after his appointment to the ambassadorship.
Until his death, the late Lele served as the Director in charge of the Middle East and Gulf Division.
He was confirmed by the Senate following his nomination by President Bola Tinubu as an ambassador to Algeria.
An Economist, Lele joined the Nigerian Foreign Service in 2001 after his graduation from Bayero University Kano.
He also served Nigeria in various diplomatic missions, including Berlin, Germany; Lomé, Togo; and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, while receiving his remains at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, described Lele as a hard-working officer.
According to Ahmed, Lele’s passing is a significant loss to the Foreign Affairs Ministry and service in general.
The Ministry also said that Lele has since been buried in Kano State, in accordance with Islamic rites on April 22.