The Senate on Thursday confirmed 64 ambassadorial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu, including a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, and a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri.

The confirmation followed the consideration and adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which stated that all the nominees were screened and found suitable for appointment.

The exercise came 48 hours after the upper chamber confirmed three non-career ambassadorial nominees, Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa) and Emmanuel Ayodele Oke (Oyo), bringing the total number of confirmed ambassadors to 67.

Among those cleared on Thursday were a former Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau; a former Special Adviser on New Media to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri; a former presidential aide, Ita Enang; and a former senator, Grace Bent.

Others include the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu; a former Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and a former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu.

In all, the confirmed nominees comprise 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners, and 30 non-career ambassadors and high commissioners.

Presenting the committee’s report, its chairman, Senator Sani Bello (APC, Niger North), said none of the nominees had petitions against them and that all were found worthy based on their qualifications, experience and conduct.

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, congratulated the appointees and urged them to represent Nigeria positively and uphold the nation’s interests in their respective postings.

The confirmation came days after the Senate dismissed claims circulating on social media that petitions had been submitted against some nominees, including Fani-Kayode and Omokri.

The Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, had said no petition or formal complaint was received by the upper chamber, stressing that the screening process involved detailed engagement with the nominees and was not a mere “take a bow and go” exercise.

“I am telling you that we didn’t receive petitions from anybody, organisation or legal entity. Not even from any faceless, outlawed or rogue element. There was no petition against any nominee,” he said.

President Tinubu had transmitted an expanded list of 65 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate on December 4, as part of efforts to fill long-vacant diplomatic positions and reposition Nigeria’s foreign missions.

The move followed months of delay after all Nigerian envoys were recalled in 2023, a development that had sparked debate over Nigeria’s diplomatic presence abroad.

With the confirmations now concluded, the ambassadors are expected to be deployed to key global capitals and international organisations in line with Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities.