A former United States ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington, is dead.

This was confirmed in a statement signed by his wife, Arese Carrington.

He was aged 90.

She wrote: “It is with a heavy and broken heart but with gratitude to God for his life of selfless humanity that I announce the passing of my beloved husband Walter Carrington, former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria and Senegal.

“He passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones at the age of 90 years old on Tuesday, August 11th, 2020.

“Further announcements will be made shortly.

“Walter was a loving husband, father, grandfather, cousin, uncle, friend, and in-law.

“Ralph Waldo Emerson said…It is not the length of life but the depth of life.

“Walter was fortunate, his life had both length and depth.

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Walter Carrington served as the United States Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Senegal and Nigeria.

He served as the US Ambassador to Senegal from 1980 to 1981 and was later appointed in 1993 as the ambassador to Nigeria, where he remained until 1997.

The diplomat has deep ties with Nigeria. He married into a Nigerian family and had lived in three Nigerian cities since the late 1960s.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to Carrington's death, describing him as a long time friend of Nigeria.

The president praised the late ambassador, saying he openly supported Nigerians when they fought for the return of democracy following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 elections.

He said Nigeria's story will be incomplete without a mention of the heroic roles of the likes of Ambassador Carrington.

The president commiserated with the family of the deceased and the government and people of the United States over the loss.