By Our Reporter
President Bola Tinubu has forwarded another batch of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
The latest non-career nominees include former Rivers State Sole Administrator and ex-Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; former presidential aide, Ita Enang; former Imo State First Lady, Chioma Ohakim; and former Minister of Interior and former Chief of Army Staff, Abdulrahman Dambazau.
The nominations were announced on Thursday during plenary, after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the President’s letter to lawmakers. Tinubu urged the Senate to accord swift consideration to the list to enable the Federal Government to fill critical diplomatic positions.
Akpabio subsequently referred the names to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, directing it to screen the nominees and report back within one week.
Earlier, the President sent 32 nominees to the Senate for confirmation—days after forwarding an initial batch of three names. The broader list includes former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu; former presidential aide, Reno Omokri; former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode; and ex-Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, among others.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the nominees comprise 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadors, including four women on the career list and six on the non-career list.
According to the statement, the ambassadors are expected to be posted to key nations such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya, as well as multilateral missions including the United Nations, UNESCO and the African Union.
All nominees will learn their diplomatic postings after Senate confirmation.