The Senate on Thursday confirmed 64 additional ambassadorial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu, formally clearing a list that includes several high-profile former public office holders such as ex-Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri.
The confirmation followed the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which announced that all nominees were thoroughly screened and deemed suitable for their respective appointments.
This latest round of approvals comes just 48 hours after the upper chamber confirmed three non-career nominees—Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Emmanuel Ayodele Oke (Oyo)—bringing the total number of confirmed ambassadors to 67.
Also cleared on Thursday were former Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau; former Special Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri; former presidential aide, Ita Enang; former Senator Grace Bent; former INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu; former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.
In total, the newly confirmed envoys comprise 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners, and 30 non-career nominees.
Presenting the committee’s report, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Senator Sani Bello (APC, Niger North), said no petitions were received against any of the nominees and that all were assessed based on competence, experience, and professional conduct.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio congratulated the appointees and urged them to project Nigeria’s image positively in their postings.
The confirmation came shortly after the Senate dismissed social media claims alleging that petitions had been filed against some nominees, including Fani-Kayode and Omokri. Senate spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, insisted that the chamber received no formal complaints or petitions.
“I am telling you that we didn’t receive petitions from anybody, organisation, or legal entity. Not even from any faceless or outlawed group,” he told PUNCH Online, emphasising that the screening exercise “involved detailed engagement, not a take-a-bow-and-go process.”
President Tinubu had earlier transmitted an expanded list of 65 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate on December 4, aiming to fill long-vacant positions and restore Nigeria’s presence across global diplomatic missions. All envoys were recalled in 2023, a move that generated concern over Nigeria’s representation abroad.
With Senate confirmation now concluded, the ambassadors are expected to be deployed to strategic global capitals and international organisations in line with Nigeria’s evolving foreign policy objectives.
