The Nigerian Senate on Thursday confirmed 64 ambassadorial nominees of President Bola Tinubu, including the controversial nominees such as former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani‑Kayode and former presidential aide Reno Omokri.
The confirmation followed the adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which stated that all nominees were screened and found suitable for appointment.
This exercise came just 48 hours after the chamber cleared three non‑career nominees — Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Emmanuel Ayodele Oke (Oyo) — bringing the total number of confirmed ambassadors to 67.
Among those cleared were former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazau, former presidential aide Ita Enang, former senator Grace Bent, former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and former Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
In all, the confirmed nominees comprise 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners and 30 non‑career ambassadors and high commissioners.
Senate Dismisses Petition Claims, Urges Positive Representation
Presenting the committee’s report, Chairman Senator Sani Bello (APC, Niger North) said none of the nominees had petitions against them and all were found worthy based on qualifications, experience, and conduct.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio congratulated the appointees and urged them to represent Nigeria positively in their postings.
The confirmation came days after the Senate dismissed social media claims that petitions had been filed against some nominees, including Fani‑Kayode and Omokri.
Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu clarified that no petitions or formal complaints were received, stressing that the screening process involved detailed engagement with nominees rather than a mere “take a bow and go” exercise.
Tinubu had transmitted an expanded list of 65 nominees on December 4, aiming to fill long‑vacant diplomatic posts after all envoys were recalled in 2023 — a move that had sparked debate over Nigeria’s diplomatic representation abroad.
With the confirmations now complete, the ambassadors are expected to be posted to key global capitals and international organisations in line with Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities.
Full List of Cleared Ambassadorial Nominees
CAREER AMBASSADORS (34)
1. Abia: Ambassador Mwaobiola Ezeuwo Chukwuemeka
2. Adamawa: Maimuna Ibrahim
3. Anambra: Enpeji Monica Okochukwu
4. Bauchi: Ambassador Mohammed Mahmoud Lele
5. Bayelsa: Endoni Sindup
6. Borno: Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno
7. Cross River: Ambassador Jen Adams Ni Okun Michael
8. Delta: Ambassador Clark Omeru Alexandra
9. Ebonyi: Chima J. Leoma Davies
10. Edo: Oduma Yvonne Ehinose
11. Edo: Wasa Shogun Ige
12. Ekiti: Ambassador Adeyemi Adebayo Emmanuel
13. Enugu: Ambassador Onaga Ogechukwu Kingsley
14. Jigawa: Ambassador Magaji Umar
15. Kaduna: Ambassador Mohammed Saidu Dahiru
16. Kano: Ambassador Abdul Salam Abus Zayat
17. Katsina: Ambassador Shehu
18. Katsina: Ambassador Aminu Nasu
19. Kebbi: Abubakar Musa Musa
20. Kebbi: Ambassador Haidara Mohammed Idris
21. Kogi: Ambassador Bako Adamu Umar
22. Kwara: Ambassador Sulu Gambari
23. Lagos: Ambassador Romata Mohammed Omobolanle
24. Nasarawa: Ambassador Shaga John Shama
25. Niger: Salau Hamza Mohammed
26. Niger: Ambassador Ibrahim Dan Lamy
27. Ogun: Adjola Ibrahim Mopolola
28. Ondo: Ruben Abimbola Samuel
29. Osun: Ambassador Akonde Wahab Adekola
30. Oyo: Ambassador Ariwani Adedokun Esther
31. Plateau: Ambassador Gedagi Joseph John
32. Rivers: Ambassador Luther Obomode Ayokatata
33. Taraba: Danladi Yakubu Yaku
34. Zamfara: Bidu Dogondagi
NON-CAREER AMBASSADORS (30)
35. Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia)
36. Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia)
37. Adamawa: Senator Grace Bent
38. Akwa Ibom: Senator Eta Enang
39. Anambra: Nkechi Linda Okocha
40. Bauchi: Mahmoud Yakubu
41. Bayelsa: Philip K. Ikurusi
42. Benue: Paul Olga Adiku
43. Cross River: Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (rtd.)
44. Delta State: Reno Omokri
45. Edo: Hon. Abbasi Brahma
46. Ekiti: Erelu Angela Adebayo
47. Ekiti: Barrister Olumilua Oluwayemika
48. Enugu: Rt. Hon. Ugwanyi Ifeanyi
49. Imo: Barr. Mrs. Chioma Ohakim
50. Kano: Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd.)
51. Katsina: Hon. Tasiu Musa Maigari
52. Kogi: Alhaji Abubakar Sanusi Aliu
53. Lagos: Olufemi Pedro
54. Nasarawa: Barr. Mohammed Obanduma Aliu
55. Ondo: Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, PhD
56. Ondo: Ambassador Joseph Yusuf Shara’aji
57. Osun: Fani-Kayode
58. Oyo: Ajimobi Fatima Florence
59. Oyo: Lola Akande
60. Plateau: Yakubu N. Gambo
61. Plateau: Senator Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut
62. Rivers: Onweze Chukwudi
63. Sokoto: Dr. Kulu Haruna Abubakar
64. Taraba: Rt. Hon. Jerry Samuel Manwe
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