President Bola Tinubu has submitted another set of non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
The latest list includes former Sole Administrator of Rivers State and ex-Chief of Naval Staff, 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.
The nominations were announced during Thursday’s plenary after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the President’s letter on the chamber floor. Tinubu urged senators to give the list swift consideration to enable the filling of key diplomatic positions.
Akpabio subsequently referred the nominees to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, directing the panel to conduct screenings and report back within one week.
Press Online had earlier reported that the President submitted 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, following an initial batch of three. Those previously named include former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former presidential aide Reno Omokri, and former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
In a statement on Saturday, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained that Tinubu is seeking confirmation for 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadors. The list features four women among the career nominees and six among the non-career nominees.
According to the Presidency, the ambassadors will be posted to countries with which Nigeria maintains strategic bilateral ties — including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya — as well as multilateral missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union.
All nominees will receive their specific postings after Senate confirmation.
