The Nigerian Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday cleared a high-profile list of ambassadorial nominees, including former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode, setting the stage for the next phase of President Bola Tinubu’s diplomatic appointments.
Other nominees approved include former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazau, ex-special adviser on new media to former President Goodluck Jonathan Reno Omokri, former presidential aide Senator Ita Enang, and Senator Grace Bent. Also confirmed were former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former Governor of Enugu State Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and former Governor of Abia State Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, among several others.
The screening session, conducted in batches of five nominees at a time, witnessed a mild drama during Omokri’s turn. Senators Mohammed Ali Ndume and Adams Oshiomhole openly disagreed over the procedure for his clearance.
After Omokri’s batch had introduced themselves, Ndume moved a motion for the nominees to take a bow and exit the chamber. Some senators, including Oshiomhole, sought to comment on their suitability. The Committee Chairman, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, recognised Oshiomhole to speak, but Ndume insisted that his motion be seconded before allowing further interventions. This led to a sharp exchange between the two lawmakers, highlighting the sometimes-contentious nature of ambassadorial confirmations.
The approvals are part of a broader diplomatic push by the Tinubu administration, which has been steadily nominating seasoned political and administrative figures to represent Nigeria abroad. Analysts note that nominees such as Fani-Kayode, Dambazau, and Omokri bring a mix of political experience, media savvy, and administrative expertise that could strengthen Nigeria’s international engagement.
With the Senate’s backing, these appointments now await formal presidential commissioning, after which the nominees are expected to take up key diplomatic roles across embassies and missions worldwide.
Emma Tochi ✔
Godwin Okafor is the Publisher & CEO of Naija247news Media Group LLC, an independent investigative news platform delivering accurate, data-driven reporting on Nigerian and global politics, economy, finance, and business. Founded in October 2010, Naija247news specializes in developmental journalism, providing timely insights and analysis to readers across Nigeria and the diaspora.
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