Tinubu submits 65 envoy nominees as senate begins tough screening
Story by Okafor Vivian
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted a list of 65 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, marking one of the most sweeping diplomatic overhauls since his administration began. The list contains 34 career diplomats and 31 non-career political appointees, aimed at filling long-standing vacancies in Nigeria’s foreign missions.
The names were read on the Senate floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and immediately referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. The committee has been given one week to screen the nominees and present its report to the chamber.
Among the career diplomats nominated are senior foreign service officers such as Sulu-Gambari Olatunji Ahmed, Ahmed Mohammed Monguno, and Maimuna Ibrahim. The non-career nominees include several prominent political figures and former service chiefs, such as former Chief of Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), former presidential aide and senator Ita Enang, and former Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd). A number of former governors, deputy governors, and other politically connected individuals also made the list, reflecting what insiders describe as a strategic repositioning of Nigeria’s foreign policy engagements.
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Senators have hinted that the screening will be thorough, with some opposition lawmakers warning that the process will not be business as usual. They insist that competence, integrity, and patriotism will guide the confirmation process, especially at a time when Nigeria faces heightened diplomatic challenges.
The extensive nominations come after months of limited diplomatic representation following the recall of ambassadors in 2023. Many embassies have been run by chargés d’affaires, a situation analysts say weakened Nigeria’s global presence. The new appointments are expected to restore full operations in key foreign missions and support the administration’s goal of strengthening Nigeria’s voice on the international stage.
The inclusion of former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu among the non-career nominees has sparked public debate. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar criticised the nomination, arguing that appointing a figure linked to disputed elections sends the wrong message. Civil society organisations have also raised concerns that some selections appear politically motivated rather than merit-based, warning that such choices could affect Nigeria’s diplomatic credibility.
READ ALSO: Tinubu nominates Ibas, Dambazau as ambassadors
The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs will begin screening immediately, after which the upper chamber will decide on confirmations. If approved, the envoys will be deployed to embassies and high commissions across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
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