President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a list of three ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the submission during Wednesday’s plenary session, which was aired on the NASS YouTube channel and monitored by PUNCH Online.
The nominees are Kayode Are from Ogun State, Aminu Dalhatu from Jigawa State, and Ayodele Oke.
Akpabio read from Tinubu’s letter titled “Request for confirmation of appointments of non-career ambassador designates,” which stated, “In accordance with the provisions of Section 171 subsections 1 and 2, c and 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate the underlisted three nominees as non-career ambassador designates.
“The list contains three names for now. I am sure others will follow,” Akpabio added after reading the letter.
He then called on the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to report back within one week.
Since taking office in 2023, President Tinubu has not appointed any ambassadors, a delay that has drawn criticism.
In September 2023, Tinubu recalled all ambassadors from Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions—including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates—as part of what the government described as a “comprehensive diplomatic review.”
Since then, most missions have been led by chargés d’affaires or senior consular officers with limited authority to represent Nigeria in formal negotiations.
On November 19, The PUNCH reported that the President had received a fresh list of ambassador-designates and was considering when to send it to the Senate.
Top officials familiar with the process said all security and background checks on the nominees had been completed, and the list was awaiting only the President’s approval before transmission to the Senate for screening.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one senior official said, “The list is ready. It’s ready. It is now with the President, and it’s up to him.”
The appointment comes following criticism that the long-term absence of ambassadors contributed to diplomatic tensions that led to Nigeria being designated a Country of Particular Concern by US President Donald Trump, who threatened military intervention over alleged killings of Christians.
Tinubu has acknowledged the complexity of balancing political and professional interests in making appointments.
“It’s not easy stitching those names,” Tinubu told members of The Buhari Organisation, led by former Nasarawa State Governor Senator Tanko Almakura, during a visit to the State House, Abuja, on September 2, 2025.
“I couldn’t appoint everybody at once, and thank you for your patience. I still have some slots for ambassadorial positions that so many people are craving for,” he added.
PUNCH.
