The Senate on Thursday confirmed the nomination of 64 ambassadorial nominees, including former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazau, ex-Independent National Electoral Commission chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode, and former presidential aide Reno Omokri.
The confirmation followed the consideration and adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which screened the nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu.
Presenting the report, the committee said all nominees were thoroughly screened and found suitable for appointment based on their qualifications, experience, conduct and knowledge of international diplomacy.
Thursday’s exercise came 48 hours after the upper chamber confirmed three non-career ambassadorial nominees forwarded by the President. Those earlier confirmed were Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun State), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa State) and Ayodele Oke (Oyo State).
Among the prominent figures cleared during Thursday’s plenary were former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, former Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters Senator Ita Enang, and former Senator Grace Bent.
Others include political appointees, career diplomats and technocrats drawn from across the federation.
In total, the confirmed list comprises 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners, and 30 non-career ambassadors and high commissioners, bringing the number of nominees cleared by the Senate to 64.
Notable names among the career ambassadorial nominees include Sulu-Gambari Ahmed from Kwara State, Segun Ige from Edo State, and Odumah Ehinosen, also from Edo State.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Sani Bello (APC, Niger North), while presenting the report, said all nominees were found worthy of their appointments and that no petition was received against any of them during the screening process.
“The committee carried out its assignment diligently and thoroughly. All nominees met the required standards and none had any petition or adverse report against them,” Bello told the chamber.
Following the adoption of the report, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, congratulated the confirmed ambassadors and urged them to uphold Nigeria’s image and interests in their respective postings.
“You are representatives of this country, and your conduct abroad must reflect the values, dignity and aspirations of Nigeria,” Akpabio said.
In a lighter moment, Akpabio also appealed to Senator Ibrahim not to sever ties with the National Assembly, urging him to remain accessible so lawmakers could continue to benefit from his experience and institutional knowledge.
The confirmation comes one week after the Senate dismissed reports alleging that it had received petitions against some of President Tinubu’s ambassadorial nominees, including Fani-Kayode, Omokri and a former INEC chairman.
The Senate had denied claims circulating on social media and within political circles that some nominees were facing opposition or potential rejection ahead of their confirmation.
During Thursday’s proceedings, Senate spokesperson Senator Yemi Adaramodu reiterated that no formal petition was submitted to the upper chamber against any nominee.
“I am telling you that we didn’t receive petitions from anybody, organisation or legal entity,” Adaramodu said.
“Not even from any faceless, outlawed or rogue element. There was no petition against any nominee.”
Adaramodu also dismissed criticisms that the nominees were merely asked to “take a bow and go,” a screening approach often criticised as superficial.
According to him, the screening sessions conducted since Wednesday involved substantive engagement, questioning and evaluation of the nominees’ credentials and readiness to serve.
The confirmation clears the way for the ambassadors to assume duties at Nigeria’s foreign missions once postings are announced.