President Bola Tinubu has expanded his list of diplomatic nominees, putting forward several high-profile figures for non-career ambassadorial roles. The move aims to swiftly fill strategic positions within Nigeria's foreign service.
New Ambassadorial Nominees Unveiled
In a letter presented to the Senate on December 4, 2025, President Tinubu nominated a fresh batch of individuals. The list includes Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the immediate-past Sole Administrator of Rivers State and a former Chief of Naval Staff.
Also nominated are former Senator Ita Enang; Chioma Ohakim, former First Lady of Imo State; and Abdulrahman Dambazau, a former Minister of Interior and ex-Chief of Army Staff. Their names were not part of the initial list of ambassadorial nominees released earlier by the presidency.
Senate Urged for Expedited Action
Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the presidential letter during plenary. He urged the upper legislative chamber to give the nominees speedy consideration. This is to ensure the government can fill crucial diplomatic postings without any delay.
Following the announcement, Akpabio immediately referred the list to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. The committee was directed to conduct the necessary screenings and report back to the full Senate within one week.
Context of Recent Nominations
This latest set of nominations comes shortly after President Tinubu nominated other prominent personalities for similar roles. That previous list included former presidential aide Reno Omokri, former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode, and the immediate-past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu.
The series of nominations indicates a concerted effort by the Tinubu administration to place experienced individuals from diverse sectors into key diplomatic positions. The focus on non-career ambassadors often signals an intent to leverage specific expertise or political capital in international relations.
