President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has broadened Nigeria’s diplomatic slate by forwarding a new set of non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, signalling a renewed push to reposition the nation’s foreign relations and strengthen global representation.
The latest list includes Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the former sole administrator of Rivers State and one-time Chief of Naval Staff; Ita Enang, a former senator; Chioma Ohakim, ex-first lady of Imo State; and Abdulrahman Dambazau, retired Chief of Army Staff and past Minister of Interior.
Moreover, the announcement surprised policy watchers because these names were not part of the earlier batch of nominees previously unveiled by the presidency.
The Senate received the updated nomination letter during Thursday’s plenary, presented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who emphasised the executive’s request for quick action.
In Tinubu’s message, he appealed for what he described as “timely legislative consent,” insisting the diplomats are needed to “occupy strategic stations crucial to Nigeria’s evolving foreign policy.”
A senior legislative aide, who asked not to be named, remarked that “the geopolitical landscape is shifting rapidly, and Nigeria needs seasoned and diverse negotiators to safeguard its interests abroad.”
Furthermore, Akpabio directed the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to begin the screening process immediately and to deliver its report within one week.
The fast-tracked timeline reflects the administration’s intention to fill existing gaps in foreign missions.
These nominations come weeks after Tinubu put forward another high-profile lineup, featuring Reno Omokri, former presidential aide; Mahmood Yakubu, immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission; and Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation, adding layers of political prominence to Nigeria’s evolving diplomatic corps.
Political observers say the combined lists illuminate Tinubu’s strategy of appointing individuals with vast political networks and security experience, hinting at a diplomatic direction aimed at boosting Nigeria’s global bargaining power.
The broader context now shifts to how the Senate responds in the coming week, with diplomacy, politics, and public opinion converging as national focus intensifies.