Tinubu Forwards Three Ambassadorial Nominees to the Senate

President Bola Tinubu has forwarded the names of three ambassador-nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

This move comes more than two years after the President ordered the recall of envoys serving in Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, disclosed the transmission during Wednesday’s plenary.

The nominees are Kayode Are (Ogun), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa), and Ayodele Oke. While presenting the letter, Akpabio noted that only three names were submitted for now, adding that more nominations are expected.

Tinubu had withdrawn all Nigerian ambassadors in September 2023, four months into his tenure, stating that the decision was part of a full restructuring of the nation’s foreign service. Since then, embassies have been overseen by chargé d’affaires, who do not wield the full diplomatic authority accorded to appointed ambassadors.

In April, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, revealed that a list of proposed nominees had been awaiting presidential approval for over a year, attributing the delay to disruptions linked to the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira.

Despite this explanation, questions have persisted over why an administration pursuing foreign investment, stronger trade relations, improved security cooperation, and infrastructural partnerships would leave key diplomatic posts vacant for such an extended period.

The submission of the three nominees marks the first significant move toward rebuilding Nigeria’s diplomatic representation globally since the mass recall over two years ago.