The Senate has approved the appointment of several prominent figures as ambassador-designates, including controversial former presidential aide Reno Omokri, former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman Mahmood Yakubu, ex-Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode, and former Rivers State Sole Administrator, Ibas Ibok-Ette.

Their confirmation formed part of a broader approval granted by the upper chamber on Thursday, covering a total of 64 nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu. Of the confirmed appointees, 34 were cleared as career ambassadors, while the remaining 30 were designated as non-career envoys.

Among those endorsed in the non-career category are former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazau. Also included are Mrs. Chioma Ohakim, wife of former Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim; Angela Adebayo, wife of a former Ekiti State governor; and Florence Ajimobi, widow of former Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

Additional confirmations went to the senator representing Ondo South, Jimoh Ibrahim; former senator Ita Enang; former Lagos State Deputy Governor Femi Pedro; and a former senator from Adamawa State, Mrs. Grace Bent.

Presiding over the plenary session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio congratulated the newly confirmed ambassadors and charged them to uphold Nigeria’s image and interests diligently in their respective countries of assignment.

Earlier in the week, the Senate had also confirmed the nominations of former Director-General of the Department of State Services, Kayode Are; former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayodele Oke; and former diplomat Aminu Dalhatu as non-career ambassadors. These individuals constituted the first batch from the three nomination lists forwarded to the Senate by President Tinubu approximately two weeks ago.