RismadarVoice Reporters, April 23, 2026
The Federal Government has announced the death of Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Algeria, Mohammed Mahmud Lele, who passed away in Ankara, Türkiye, after a prolonged illness.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lele was said to have died on April 19, 2026. He had recently been appointed by President Bola Tinubu and confirmed by the Senate to serve as Nigeria’s envoy to Algeria.
Until his death, he served as Director of the Middle East and Gulf Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Born in Gamawa, Bauchi State, in 1976, Lele was an economics graduate of Bayero University, Kano. Over the course of his diplomatic career, he served in several Nigerian missions, including Berlin, Lomé, and Riyadh.
The Ministry described his death as a significant loss to Nigeria’s foreign service, noting his “intellectual depth, professionalism, and commitment to national interest.”
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dunoma Umar Ahmed, received the late diplomat’s remains at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, where he was described as a “hardworking and humble officer” who contributed meaningfully to Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements.
Lele was buried on Wednesday in Kano according to Islamic rites.
The Ministry extended condolences to his family, colleagues, and the Bauchi State Government, praying for the repose of his soul.
