The Senate on Thursday confirmed 64 ambassadorial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu, including former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri.
The confirmation followed the adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which stated that all nominees were screened and found suitable for appointment.
The exercise came 48 hours after the upper chamber confirmed three non-career ambassadorial nominees — Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Emmanuel Ayodele Oke (Oyo) — bringing the total number of confirmed ambassadors to 67.
Among those cleared on Thursday were former Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau; former presidential aide, Ita Enang; former senator, Grace Bent; and former Special Adviser on New Media to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri.
Also confirmed were former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu; former Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu.
In total, the confirmed nominees comprise 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners, and 30 non-career ambassadors and high commissioners.
Presenting the committee’s report, its chairman, Senator Sani Bello (APC, Niger North), said none of the nominees had petitions against them and that all met the required standards based on their qualifications, experience, and conduct.
Congratulating the appointees, Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged them to project Nigeria’s image positively in their respective countries of posting.
The confirmation followed the Senate’s dismissal of claims circulating on social media that petitions had been filed against some nominees, including Fani-Kayode and Omokri. Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, had maintained that no formal complaints were received and that the screening process was thorough.
President Tinubu had transmitted an expanded list of 65 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate on December 4 to fill long-vacant diplomatic positions and reposition Nigeria’s foreign missions, following the recall of all Nigerian envoys in 2023.
With the confirmation process completed, the ambassadors are expected to be deployed to key global capitals and international organisations in line with Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives.
