Tinubu Requests Senate Confirmation Of Three New Ambassadors to US, UK, France

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By Odekunle Doyin

A fresh diplomatic move has begun as President Bola Tinubu asked the Senate to confirm three non career ambassadors expected to represent Nigeria in the United States, the United Kingdom and France.

The request was contained in a letter read on the Senate floor on Wednesday by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

According to the letter, the president explained that the nominations were made under section 171 sub sections 1, 2c and 4 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which empowers him to appoint ambassadors subject to legislative approval.

Another part of the communication indicated that the final postings of the envoys will be completed after the Senate conducts its screening and confirmation exercise.

The nominees include Ambassador Ayodele Oke, Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are and Ambassador Amin Mohammed Dalhatu.

Amin Mohammed Dalhatu previously held the same position as Nigeria’s envoy to South Korea during the Buhari administration, following his appointment in 2016.

Ayodele Oke, a graduate of Emory University in Atlanta, once led the National Intelligence Agency and also served as Nigeria’s representative at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.

Retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are brings a long security background to the list, having been Director General of the State Security Service between 1999 and 2007, later becoming National Security Adviser in 2010. He studied Psychology at the University of Ibadan where he graduated with First Class Honours.

The Senate is expected to schedule the screening session in the coming days as part of its constitutional responsibility to vet ambassadorial nominees.