President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded his first list of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
The announcement was made on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who read a formal correspondence from the President.
The initial list has three nominees: Kayode Are from Ogun State, Aminu Dalhatu from Jigawa State, and Ayodele Oke.
“The list contains three names for now, I am sure others will follow,” Akpabio stated after relaying the President’s letter, indicating that this is the first batch of a broader set of diplomatic appointments.
The Daily Crucible reports that this came on heels of calls for appointment of ambassadors to man the country’s missions around the world, particularly in key nations such as the United States, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Germany among others.
Since assuming office May 29, 2023, President Tinubu did not make any ambassadorial appointments until now, a delay that stoked criticisms from political opponents and policy analysts.
The absence of confirmed ambassadors for over two years has left many of Nigeria’s key diplomatic posts vacant, prompting some critics to conclude that the United States’ stance on the security situation in Nigeria would probably have taken a moderate tone.
The United States President Donald Trump recently designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” and threatened “Guns – a – blazing” against Nigeria over alleged genocidal killing of Christians and burning of churches in Northern part of the country.
