The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday screened several non-career ambassadorial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu.

Among those who appeared before the committee were former presidential aide Reno Omokri, former Enugu State governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former presidential aide and ex-lawmaker Senator Ita Enang, and former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

As is customary, former ministers, ambassadors, and lawmakers were asked to “take a bow and leave” after their introductions, with the committee citing their previous Senate confirmations and long-standing records in public service.

Other nominees were questioned on Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities, the country’s bilateral and multilateral engagements, and their strategies for advancing Nigeria’s diplomatic, security, and economic interests abroad.

The committee, chaired by Senator Abubakar Sani Bello (APC, Niger North), is expected to finalise its report and present it to the Senate for full consideration and confirmation.

Their confirmation now awaits the decision of the entire Senate.

The screening followed President Tinubu’s submission of a list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate on November 29, with the President urging lawmakers to “expeditiously” confirm the nominees in line with their constitutional mandate.

Tinubu noted that the individuals are being considered for both career and non-career ambassadorial postings, with final deployments to be announced after Senate approval.