In what appears to be correcting the wrongs of overlooking appointment of ambassadors for over two years since coming into office, President Bola Tinubu has sent 65 names to the Senate for confirmation as Ambassadors.
The government had immediately on assumption of office recalled all serving ambassadors, and never made any effort at reappointing new ones.
Following recurring questions on why the country was comfortable running without Ambassadors, the governemnt said there was no money to take care of them.
The recent redesignation of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ CPC, and the subsequent criticisms against the President has now forced the governemnt into nominating ambassadors.
The list now has 34 career ambassadors and High Commissioners and 31 non career ambassadors.
The President had first sent three names to the senate for confirmation, before sending addition 32, but the lastest round of nominations.
The President’s request, was read in plenary on Thursday by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
Notable nominees among the 34 career ambassadorial nominees are Sulu – Gambari Olatunde Ahmed from Kwara state, Segun Ige from Edo state while notable among the Non career ambassadorial nominees are Senator Folasade Grace Bent from Adamawa state, Senator Solomon Ita Enang from Akwa – Ibom state, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim from Ondo state etc.
The names of former Abia Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, former Enugu Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and former INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu had earlier made the list of non career ambasadorial nominees.
The first three Ambassadorial nominees, Kayode Are (Ogun state), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa state) and Ayodele Oke (Oyo state), earlier forwarded to the Senate last week, have been screened by its committee on Foreign Affairs, while the new 65 nominees, have been forwarded to the same committee for screening within one week.