In a fresh round of diplomatic appointments, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded a new list of non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

The fresh batch includes several prominent names not featured in the earlier list of 32 nominees, namely:

Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the immediate past Sole Administrator of Rivers State and former Chief of Naval Staff; Barrister Ita Enang, former senator and ex-presidential aide; Chioma Ohakim, former First Lady of Imo State and Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Minister of Interior and ex-Chief of Army Staff.

Political analyst described the development as a move that will reshape the Nigeria’s foreign – service envoys.

In his letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu urged lawmakers to give “swift consideration” to the new nominees, citing the need to fill critical diplomatic postings currently vacant.

During Today’s plenary, Akpabio read the president’s letter and referred the nominations to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, directing the panel to complete screening and submit its report within one week.

The new batch of ambassadorial nominees came just days after Tinubu’s earlier submission of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate; a group that included former top public office holders such as ex-INEC chairman, former ministers and ex-governors.

A quick profiles of the new nominees shows’; Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas is a retired Vice-Admiral, who led the Nigerian Navy from 2015 to 2021. Earlier in 2025, he was appointed Sole Administrator of Rivers State, a measure taken during a state-level (emergency) political crisis.

Ita Enang, also a former senator with experience in legislative and executive support roles. His inclusion signals a preference for experienced political actors among non-career ambassadorial nominees.

Chioma Ohakim is a former First Lady of Imo State. She brings potential influence in social, gender, and community diplomacy often considerations for non-career ambassadorial assignments.

Abdulrahman Dambazau, a retired Lieutenant General, former Chief of Army Staff, and former Minister of Interior with deep experience in security, internal affairs, and national governance.

Their nomination if confirmed by the National Assembly underlines President Tinubu administration’s strategy to populate Nigeria’s international missions with a blend of political appointees and former public servants, rather than relying solely on career diplomats.

With vacancies across many critical postings, a speedy confirmation could ensure that Nigeria restores or even strengthens its diplomatic presence abroad.

At the same time, the inclusion of former security chiefs and ex-state actors may draw scrutiny from civil society and opposition elements, who may question the mix of merit, political patronage, and strategic calculation behind the nominations.

As the screening by the Senate Committee begins, all eyes will be on whether the nominees especially, the high-profile ones will be cleared for confirmation, and which countries they will be posted to.