The Senate on Thursday confirmed the nomination of a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode; a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri; and 60 others as ambassadors.
The confirmation followed the consideration and adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which screened the ambassadorial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu.
In its report, the committee said all the nominees were thoroughly screened and found suitable for appointment based on their qualifications, experience, conduct, and understanding of international diplomacy.
The confirmation came about 48 hours after the upper chamber approved three nominees as non-career ambassadors. Those earlier confirmed were Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun State), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa State), and Ayodele Oke (Oyo State).
Among those cleared on Thursday were former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazau; former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu; former Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu; Senator Ita Enang; and Senator Grace Bent, among others.
In total, the list comprises 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners, as well as 30 non-career ambassadors and high commissioners, bringing the number of confirmed nominees to 64.
Notable names among the career ambassadorial appointees include Sulu-Gambari Ahmed (Kwara State), Segun Ige (Edo State), and Odumah Ehinosen (also of Edo State).
Presenting the report, the committee’s chairman, Senator Sani Bello (APC, Niger North), said all the nominees were found worthy of appointment, adding that no petitions were received against any of them.
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio congratulated the appointees and urged them to project Nigeria positively in their host countries.
Akpabio also appealed to Senator Ibrahim to maintain close ties with the National Assembly, encouraging continued engagement so the Senate could benefit from his experience and institutional knowledge.
The confirmation came one week after the Senate dismissed reports alleging that petitions had been submitted against some of President Tinubu’s ambassadorial nominees, including Fani-Kayode, Omokri, and a former INEC chairman.
The Senate had earlier denied claims circulating in political circles and on social media that some nominees were facing opposition ahead of their confirmation.
Speaking during Thursday’s proceedings, the Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, said no petition or letter of protest was received by the upper chamber.
“I am telling you that we didn’t receive petitions from anybody, organisation, or legal entity—nor from any faceless or outlawed group. There was no petition against any nominee,” Adaramodu said.
He also dismissed criticisms that the screening amounted to nominees merely being asked to “take a bow and go,” insisting that the sessions involved substantive engagement and questioning.
