President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted another batch of non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
The nominees include former Rivers State Sole Administrator 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.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the President’s letter during Thursday’s plenary, formally presenting the list to lawmakers. Tinubu, in the correspondence, urged the Senate to accord the nominations swift consideration to fill key diplomatic postings.
Akpabio subsequently referred the list to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs with a one-week deadline to screen the nominees and report back.
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The fresh submission brings the total number of ambassadorial nominees before the Senate to 32, coming days after the President sent an initial batch of three. Those earlier listed include former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu; former presidential aide, Reno Omokri (Delta); and former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
A statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed that Tinubu forwarded two separate letters seeking confirmation of 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career nominees.
Onanuga noted that four women feature on the career list and six on the non-career list.
He added that the envoys will be deployed to countries with which Nigeria maintains strategic bilateral relations, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa and Kenya, as well as permanent missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO and the African Union.
The nominees will receive their specific postings after Senate confirmation.
