ABUJA: President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a fresh list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, expanding on an earlier batch of three names sent last week.
The new list includes several high-profile figures such as former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, former presidential aide Reno Omokri, and former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
The nominations were contained in two letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, according to a statement issued on Saturday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Tinubu is seeking confirmation for:
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15 career ambassadors
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17 non-career ambassadors
Onanuga noted that the list includes 10 women—four designated as career envoys and six as non-career envoys.
Among the key political figures on the non-career list are:
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Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia), former presidential aide
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Reno Omokri (Delta), former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan
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Mahmud Yakubu, former INEC chairman
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Erelu Bisi Fayemi, former Ekiti First Lady
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Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former Enugu State Governor
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Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister (Osun)
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Otunba Femi Pedro, former Lagos State Deputy Governor
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Professor Nora Ladi Daduut, former Plateau senator
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Nkechi Ufochukwu (Anambra)
Others include former Katsina House of Assembly Speaker Tasiu Musa Maigari, former UBEC Deputy Executive Secretary Yakubu N. Gambo, and several former commissioners and public officers.
The career nominees include:
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Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia)
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Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba)
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Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa)
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Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi)
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Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa)
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Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi)
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Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun)
Others include Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo), Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah (Edo), Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger), and seasoned diplomats such as Amb. Shehu Barde, Amb. Ahmed Mohammed Monguno, Amb. Muhammad Saidu Dahiru, Amb. Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari, and Amb. Wahab Adekola Akande.
According to the presidency, the appointees will be assigned to countries that hold significant strategic value for Nigeria, including:
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China
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India
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South Korea
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Canada
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Mexico
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United Arab Emirates
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Qatar
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South Africa
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Kenya
Others will be posted to major international bodies such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union once Senate confirmation is secured.
Last week, Tinubu forwarded three additional nominees:
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Amb. Ayodele Oke (Oyo)
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Amb. Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa)
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Col. Lateef Kayode Are (rtd.) (Ogun)
These three are expected to be considered for postings to the United Kingdom, the United States, or France.
The presidency indicated that more ambassadorial nominations will be released “soon,” stressing that the deployment process will be staggered to align with Nigeria’s evolving foreign policy priorities.
