Abuja — December 5, 2025 | Dalena Reporters
President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a sweeping list of 65 ambassadorial and high-commissioner nominees to the national Senate for confirmation a major diplomatic reset after nearly two years of largely vacant foreign missions.
The list comprises 34 career diplomats and 31 non-career nominees, including former service chiefs, ex-governors, previous political officeholders and prominent public figures. Among the non-career nominees are former Chief of Army Staff Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Naval Chief Ibok‑Ete Ibas, and ex-senators or political actors such as Ita Enang and Folasade Grace Bent.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has referred the nominations to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs giving the committee a one-week deadline to screen and report on all candidates.
Despite the scale of the submission, several lawmakers have warned that the confirmation will not be “business as usual.” In private comments, some emphasised that every nominee must demonstrate patriotism, competence, and the capacity to defend Nigeria’s international interests suggesting that the Senate could reject candidates perceived as unfit.
Observers note this marks one of the largest single-batch diplomatic appointments in Nigeria’s recent history, reflecting the government’s urge to restore Nigeria’s global representation after prolonged delays. The outcome of the Senate screening particularly concerns over non-career nominees could shape the direction of Nigeria’s foreign policy engagement in coming years.