President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted another set of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, expanding the ongoing shake-up of Nigeria’s diplomatic representation.
The latest list features several prominent figures, including former Rivers State Sole Administrator and ex–Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; former presidential adviser, Ita Enang; ex–Imo First Lady, Chioma Ohakim; and former Minister of Interior and retired Chief of Army Staff, Abdulrahman Dambazau.
The names were unveiled during Thursday’s plenary after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the President’s letter on the Senate floor. Tinubu urged lawmakers to give the nominees accelerated consideration to ensure Nigeria promptly fills key foreign missions.
Akpabio subsequently forwarded the list to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs with instructions to screen the candidates and report back within one week.
This development follows an earlier submission of 32 ambassadorial nominees—a mix of career and non-career diplomats—sent to the Senate just days after an initial batch of three was forwarded for confirmation.
That broader list includes former INEC Chairman Mahmud Yakubu, ex-Presidential aide Reno Omokri, and former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, among others.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President is seeking Senate approval for 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadors. The statement, titled “Tinubu Nominates 32 Additional Ambassadors,” also highlighted that the group comprises four women among the career nominees and six among the non-career nominees.
The ambassadors, once confirmed, are expected to be deployed to nations with significant bilateral and strategic ties to Nigeria, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya, as well as major multilateral posts such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union.
Their specific country assignments will be announced after Senate confirmation.
