President Bola Tinubu has made new nominations for appointment as non-career ambassadors.
According to a statement released on Thursday from the State House, the list includes the immediate past sole administrator of Rivers State and former naval chief, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas.
Others nominated are former senator Ita Enang; former Imo State first lady, Chioma Ohakim; and former Minister of Interior and former Chief of Army Staff, Abdulrahman Dambazau.
The President also nominated Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator Nora Daduut, and Fatima Ajimobi, among others, for non-career ambassadorial appointments.
The new list brings the total number of ambassadorial nominees under President Tinubu to 68.
On Wednesday, the Senate screened and cleared three ambassadorial nominees earlier forwarded by Tinubu, after what lawmakers described as a rigorous session focused heavily on national security and competence.
Those cleared by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs were former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency and ex-Ambassador to the Commonwealth Secretariat, Ayo Oke; career diplomat and former Ambassador to South Korea, Amin Muhammad Dalhatu; and former Director-General of the State Security Service, Lateef Kayode Are.
A notable moment during the screening occurred when Ayo Oke addressed concerns raised by Senators Seriake Dickson and Adams Oshiomhole. He acknowledged their questions, noting that the issues were already in the public domain. While stating he would avoid sensitive operational details, he expressed readiness to clarify key points.
Commenting on the covert operation linked to his name, Oke explained that the operation had the approval of two Presidents and emphasized that his actions were carried out strictly in the interest of national security.
