President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has initiated a significant overhaul of Nigeria's diplomatic representation by forwarding a list of sixty-eight ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
Major Diplomatic Reshuffle Underway
The comprehensive list was presented during Thursday's plenary session by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. The President is seeking swift confirmation to ensure Nigeria can promptly fill several key foreign missions that are currently vacant or require new leadership.
In a letter addressed to the Senate, President Tinubu stated that the appointments are intended to strengthen Nigeria's international representation and reposition its diplomatic engagements on the global stage. This move aligns with the Federal Government's ongoing efforts to bolster the nation's diplomatic presence worldwide.
Breakdown of Nominees
The list is composed of three distinct groups. Thirty-four are career diplomats drawn from the foreign service, representing all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). These are serving senior officers recommended for ambassadorial postings.
Thirty-one are non-career appointees, featuring a mix of prominent politicians, former military officers, and media personalities. Notable names in this category include:
- Former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.)
- Former presidential aide, Senator Ita Enang
- Former Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd.)
- Former Lagos Deputy Governor, Olufemi Pedro
- Media personality and author, Reno Omokri
- Senator Jimoh Ibrahim
- Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode
- Former Imo State First Lady, Chioma Ohakim
The final group consists of three candidates who were previously cleared by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs in an earlier process.
Next Steps for Senate Screening
The Senate has immediately referred the list to its Committee on Foreign Affairs for detailed screening. The committee has been directed to conduct the screening process and submit its report within one week, indicating an expedited timeline for confirmation.
This rapid schedule underscores the administration's urgency in deploying a full complement of ambassadors to advance Nigeria's foreign policy objectives and protect its interests abroad. The successful confirmation of these nominees will complete a major phase in the renewal of the country's diplomatic corps.
The full list of nominees, as transmitted by the President, is as follows:
CAREER AMBASSADORS (34)
1. Abia – Mwaobiola Ezeuwo Chukwuemeka
2. Adamawa – Maimuna Ibrahim
3. Anambra – Enpeji Monica Okochukwu
4. Bauchi – Mohammed Mahmoud Lele
5. Bayelsa – Endoni Sindup
6. Borno – Ahmed Mohammed Monguno
7. Cross River – Jen Adams Ni Okun Michael
8. Delta – Clark Omeru Alexandra
9. Ebonyi – Chima J. Leoma Davies
10. Edo – Oduma Yvonne Ehinose
11. Edo – Wasa Shogun Ige
12. Ekiti – Adeyemi Adebayo Emmanuel
13. Enugu – Onaga Ogechukwu Kingsley
14. Jigawa – Magaji Umar
15. Kaduna – Mohammed Saidu Dahiru
16. Kano – Abdul Salam Abus Zayat
17. Katsina – Ambassador Shehu
18. Katsina – Aminu Nasu
19. Kebbi – Abubakar Musa Musa
20. Kebbi – Haidara Mohammed Idris
21. Kogi – Bako Adamu Umar
22. Kwara – Sulu Gambari
23. Lagos – Romata Mohammed Omobolanle
24. Nasarawa – Shaga John Shama
25. Niger – Salau Hamza Mohammed
26. Niger – Ibrahim Dan Lamy
27. Ogun – Adjola Ibrahim Mopolola
28. Ondo – Ruben Abimbola Samuel
29. Osun – Akonde Wahab Adekola
30. Oyo – Ariwani Adedokun Esther
31. Plateau – Gedagi Joseph John
32. Rivers – Luther Obomode Ayokatata
33. Taraba – Danladi Yakubu Yaku
34. Zamfara – Bidu Dogondagi
NON-CAREER AMBASSADORS (31)
1. Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia)
2. Barr. Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia)
3. Senator Grace Bent (Adamawa)
4. Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom)
5. Nkechi Linda Okocha (Anambra)
6. Mahmoud Yakubu (Bauchi)
7. Philip K. Ikurusi (Bayelsa)
8. Paul Olga Adiku (Benue)
9. Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (rtd.) – Cross River
10. Reno Omokri (Delta)
11. Abbasi Brahma (Edo)
12. Erelu Angela Adebayo (Ekiti)
13. Barr. Olumilua Oluwayemika (Ekiti)
14. Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwanyi (Enugu)
15. Chioma Ohakim (Imo)
16. Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd.) – Kano
17. Tasiu Musa Maigari (Katsina)
18. Abubakar Sanusi Aliu (Kogi)
19. Olufemi Pedro (Lagos)
20. Barr. Mohammed Obanduma Aliu (Nasarawa)
21. Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo)
22. Ambassador Joseph Yusuf Shara’aji (Ondo)
23. Femi Fani-Kayode (Osun)
24. Ajimobi Fatima Florence (Oyo)
25. Lola Akande (Oyo)
26. Yakubu N. Gambo (Plateau)
27. Senator Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut (Plateau)
28. Onweze Chukwudi (Rivers)
29. Dr. Kulu Haruna Abubakar (Sokoto)
30. Rt. Hon. Jerry Samuel Manwe (Taraba)
31. Adamu Garba Tarba-Nagri (Yobe)
FIRST BATCH CLEARED BY SENATE COMMITTEE (3)
1. Ayodele Oke – Oyo
2. Amin Mohammed Dalhatu – Jigawa
3. Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are – Ogun
