President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a fresh list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, expanding on the initial batch of three names he sent earlier in the week.
The new list features a mix of political figures, former public office holders, and former public office holders. Among them are the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmud Yakubu; former presidential aide, Reno Omokri; and former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who was a member of the former G-5 governors of the PDP.
In two separate letters addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu requested swift confirmation of 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadors.
This was disclosed in a Saturday statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement titled “Tinubu nominates 32 additional ambassadors,” four women were listed among the career nominees and six among the non-career nominees.
Onanuga noted that the non-career nominees include Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia), Reno Omokri (Delta), Mahmud Yakubu, former Ekiti First Lady Erelu Angela Adebayo, and former Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Also on the non-career list are former Katsina House of Assembly Speaker Tasiu Musa Maigari; former Plateau Commissioner Yakubu N. Gambo; former UBEC Deputy Executive Secretary; former senator Nora Ladi Daduut; former Lagos Deputy Governor Femi Pedro; former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode; and Nkechi Ufochukwu from Anambra.
Others include former First Lady of Oyo State, Florence Ajimobi; former Lagos Commissioner, Lola Akande; former Adamawa Senator, Grace Bent; former Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu; Senator Jimoh Ibrahim; and former Nigerian ambassador to the Holy See, Paul Oga Adikwu.
The career ambassador and high-commissioner nominees are Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia), Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba), Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa), Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi), Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa), Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi), and Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun).
Others include Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo), Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah (Edo), Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger), Ambassador Shehu Barde (Katsina), Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna), Ambassador Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara), and Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun).
The presidency explained that the new nominees are expected to serve in countries with which Nigeria maintains strategic diplomatic relationships, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya.
Others will be deployed to permanent missions such as the United Nations, UNESCO, and the African Union.
Their specific postings will be announced after the Senate completes the confirmation process.
Last week, the President sent three nominees for screening: Ambassador Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa), and retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun). They are being considered for postings to the UK, USA, or France.
Onanuga added that more ambassadorial nominations will be unveiled soon, noting that the appointments are being staggered in alignment with Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities.