Tinubu sends list of 23 more ambassadorial nominees to senate as race for UK high commissioner heats up

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has sent a list of 32 more ambassadorial nominees to the senate for approval as the race to fill up positions in Nigeria's missions abroad gathers pace in response to calls for action on the matter.

Last week, in response to growing calls for the appointment of full time substantive ambassadors, President Tinubu sent the names of Kayode Are from Ogun State, Aminu Dalhatu from Jigawa and Ayodele Oke from Oyo State, to the senate for approval. These three are expected to take charge of the three large embassies on the UK, US and Russia once their nominations are approved by the senate.

Over the next week, the senate is expected to approve these three names, with one of them then due to be named as Nigeria's high commissioner to the UK. Since August 2024, the UK has not had a substantive high commissioner, with career diplomatic Ambassador Mohammed Maidugu filing the role in an active capacity.

Upon being elected in 2023, President Tinubu recalled all of the political ambassadors and high commissioners, leaving only the career diplomats in place, creating a vacuum in some instances. However, in an interview he granted in September, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria's foreign minister, dismissed concerns that diplomatic missions were paralysed without appointed envoys.

Now, 23 more names have been added to this list of three as the new set of nominees include 17 non-career ambassadors and 15 career ambassadors, who will be posted to countries and international organisations critical to Nigeria’s foreign relations. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, said the nominees are expected to be posted to strategic countries, including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, UAE, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya, as well as permanent missions such as the UN, Unesco and the African Union.

Non-career ambassadors (17 nominees)

Barrister Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia)

Reno Omokri (Delta)

Prof Mahmood Yakubu (Bauchi)

Erelu Bisi Angela Adebayo (Ekiti)

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu)

Tasiu Musa Maigari (Katsina)

Yakubu Gambo (Plateau)

Prof Nora Ladi Daduut (Plateau)

Otunba Femi Pedro (Lagos)

Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (Osun)

Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Anambra)

Fatima Florence Ajimobi (Oyo)

Lola Akande (Lagos)

Grace Bent (Adamawa)

Dr Victor Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia)

Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo)

Ambassador Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue)

Career Ambassadors (15 nominees)

Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia)

Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba)

Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa)

Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi)

Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa)

Chima Geoffrey Lioma David (Ebonyi)

Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun)

Abimbola Samuel Reuben (Ondo)

Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah (Edo)

Hamza Mohammed Salau (Niger)

Ambassador Shehu Barde (Katsina)

Ambassador Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno)

Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna)

Ambassador Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari (Kwara)

Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande (Osun)