President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted a new batch of non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, marking another step in his ongoing diplomatic reshuffle aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s foreign missions.
The latest submission, read on the Senate floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Thursday’s plenary, features prominent names including former Chief of Naval Staff and immediate past Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; former presidential aide, Ita Enang; former Imo First Lady, Chioma Ohakim; and former Minister of Interior and ex-Chief of Army Staff, Abdulrahman Dambazau.
Tinubu urged the upper chamber to fast-track the confirmation process to ensure vacant diplomatic positions are promptly filled. Akpabio subsequently referred the list to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, directing the panel to screen the nominees and report back within one week.
This development comes less than a week after the President forwarded a larger batch of 32 nominees—15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees—to the Senate. That earlier list included high-profile figures such as former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former presidential aide Reno Omokri, former Ekiti First Lady Erelu Angela Adebayo, former Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, ex-Lagos Deputy Governor Femi Pedro, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, and former Oyo First Lady Florence Ajimobi.
According to the Presidency, the nominees—together with those on the fresh list—will be deployed to strategic countries where Nigeria maintains strong bilateral ties, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa and Kenya. Others will serve in Nigeria’s permanent missions to the United Nations, UNESCO and the African Union. Posting details will be issued after Senate confirmation.
The expanded Tinubu ambassadorial list features ten women—six non-career and four career nominees—and includes former governors, ministers, commissioners and senators. The career nominees span several states, including Abia, Taraba, Adamawa, Kebbi, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Niger, Katsina, Borno, Kaduna, Kwara and Osun.
Ambassadors act as the President’s representatives abroad, managing Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic and cultural engagements. While career ambassadors rise through the Foreign Service, non-career diplomats are appointed for political or strategic expertise.
President Tinubu had earlier indicated that more ambassadorial nominations would be sent to the Senate, signalling a broad restructuring of Nigeria’s diplomatic corps.