President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has broadened his diplomatic shake-up with a new set of ambassadorial nominations submitted to the Senate, featuring several notable former government officials and technocrats.
The latest list, read on the Senate floor by President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio during Thursday’s plenary, includes former Chief of Naval Staff and ex–Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; former presidential adviser Ita Enang; former Imo State First Lady, Chioma Ohakim; and retired Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau, a former Chief of Army Staff and past Interior Minister.
Tinubu, in his letter to the lawmakers, urged the Senate to expedite its confirmation process to enable Nigeria fill long-vacant diplomatic positions across key global missions. Akpabio subsequently referred the nominations to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, mandating the panel to conclude its screening and submit its report within one week.
The new list arrives just days after the president transmitted two earlier batches of ambassadorial nominees. Those submissions featured 32 names, comprising 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees, including former INEC Chairman Mahmud Yakubu, former presidential aide Reno Omokri, and ex-Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the nominees will be deployed to countries considered strategic to Nigeria’s global interests—such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, and South Africa. Others will be assigned to permanent missions at multilateral institutions including the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union.
Tinubu’s latest submissions mark a significant step in rebuilding Nigeria’s diplomatic presence abroad, with all nominees expected to receive their specific postings after Senate confirmation.
