ABUJA – President Bola Tinubu has sent a blockbuster list of 65 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, in the biggest diplomatic shake-up since he recalled all envoys in September 2023.
The list, read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Thursday, contains:
– 34 career foreign service officers
– 31 non-career (political) appointees
Every state and the six geopolitical zones are represented.
Notable names include:
– Former INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega
– Former Interior Minister Lt-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd)
– Former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (rtd)
– Ex-Senators Folasade Grace Bent, Solomon Ita Enang and Jimoh Ibrahim
– Former Akwa Ibom First Lady Chioma Ohakim
– Controversial commentators Femi Fani-Kayode and Reno Omokri
– Retired diplomats and security chiefs
The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, has one week to screen the nominees. Confirmation is expected before the Christmas break.
This fresh batch comes on top of three names submitted last week, bringing the total pending ambassadorial approvals to 68.
With most Nigerian missions abroad currently run by chargés d’affaires for over two years, the new appointments are seen as critical to reviving Nigeria’s economic diplomacy and foreign investment drive.
