The Senate on Thursday, December 18, 2025, gave final approval to 64 ambassadorial nominees submitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, clearing the way for the long-awaited redeployment of Nigeria’s diplomatic corps after months of vacancy across foreign missions.
Those confirmed include prominent political figures and former public office holders such as ex-Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode; former presidential aide, Reno Omokri; former Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau; and a former Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang.
The confirmation followed the consideration and unanimous adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which concluded that all nominees successfully scaled the screening exercise and were found fit for appointment.
The exercise came barely 48 hours after the upper chamber confirmed three non-career ambassadorial nominees, Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Emmanuel Ayodele Oke (Oyo), bringing the total number of confirmed ambassadors to 67.
Other high-profile nominees cleared on Thursday include former senator Grace Bent; former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu; former Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu.
In all, the confirmed nominees comprise 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners, alongside 30 non-career ambassadors and high commissioners.
Presenting the committee’s report, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Sani Bello (APC, Niger North), told the chamber that none of the nominees had petitions filed against them. He said the committee thoroughly examined their credentials, experience, and conduct, adding that all were found worthy to represent Nigeria abroad.
Commending the outcome of the screening, Senate President Godswill Akpabio congratulated the confirmed ambassadors and charged them to uphold Nigeria’s image, protect national interests, and project the country positively in their respective host nations.
The confirmation also put to rest speculations and social media claims that petitions had been submitted against some nominees, particularly Fani-Kayode and Omokri. The Senate had earlier dismissed the reports as unfounded.
Senate spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, reiterated that no petition or formal complaint was received by the National Assembly, stressing that the screening was rigorous and far from a ceremonial exercise.
“We did not receive any petition from any individual, organisation, or legal entity—none whatsoever,” Adaramodu said. “The screening involved detailed engagement with the nominees. It was not a ‘take a bow and go’ affair.”
President Tinubu had forwarded an expanded list of 65 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate on December 4 as part of efforts to revive Nigeria’s foreign missions, many of which had remained without substantive heads since all envoys were recalled in 2023.
The prolonged vacuum had sparked widespread concern over Nigeria’s diplomatic presence and influence globally. With the Senate’s confirmation now concluded, the ambassadors are expected to be deployed to strategic capitals and international organisations in line with the administration’s foreign policy objectives.
