The Senate is preparing for a rigorous screening of President Bola Tinubu’s 65 ambassadorial nominees next week, with several lawmakers insisting the process will not be business as usual.
According to three opposition senators who spoke anonymously, many nominees will face tough questioning to ensure they are competent, patriotic, and capable of representing Nigeria’s interests abroad.
One ranking senator said, “This is not a job for the boys. Nigeria needs men and women of integrity who can defend the country before the international community.”
Another lawmaker emphasised that the nominees must be proven to be “fit for purpose.”
Large Batch of Nominees Arrives Senate
On Thursday, the Senate received the President’s request for the confirmation of 65 nominees — one of the largest diplomatic submissions by the administration.
The document contained:
34 career ambassadors and high commissioners
31 non-career nominees
This list arrived barely 24 hours after the Senate began screening an earlier batch of three nominees.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the new list to the Committee on Foreign Affairs with a one-week deadline to complete the screenings.
Notable Names on the List
Among the career ambassadors are:
Sulu-Gambari Olatunji Ahmed (Kwara)
Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno)
Maimuna Ibrahim (Adamawa)
Prominent names among the non-career nominees include:
Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.)
Senator Ita Enang
Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.)
A report circulating suggested that nominee Adamu Garba Talba (Yobe) may have passed away months ago, though this could not be confirmed as at press time.
Why the Screening Matters
Nigeria has spent nearly two years without substantive ambassadors in many foreign missions. The government cited financial constraints and the need to renovate embassies before posting new envoys.
With embassies deteriorating and Nigeria’s diplomatic presence shrinking, experts warn that:
The country’s global influence has weakened
Protection for Nigerians abroad has reduced
Economic and security opportunities may have been lost
The government allocated ₦53bn in the 2024 budget to refurbish 103 embassies, though estimates show almost $1bn is needed for full restoration.
The new nominees are expected to help restore Nigeria’s diplomatic strength.
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Atiku Faults Tinubu Over Yakubu’s Nomination
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticised the inclusion of the immediate past INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, in the ambassadorial list.
Atiku said he “would never, under any circumstance” nominate an immediate past electoral umpire for such a position, arguing it raises credibility concerns and sends a wrong signal to the public.
He argued that the move may be seen as rewarding the individual who oversaw one of Nigeria’s most contentious elections.
Atiku wrote that the nomination:
Undermines trust in the electoral process
Creates damaging optics for the current administration
Could encourage future electoral compromise
Yakubu’s tenure ended only weeks ago, after supervising the 2023 elections that brought Tinubu into office.
