The Federal Government (FG) is set to appoint former presidential aide Reno Omokri, former governors Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and ex-lawmaker Senator Shehu Sani as ambassadors.
Sources close to the presidency revealed that the listed individuals are currently undergoing security screening by the Department of State Services (DSS), a prerequisite before any formal announcement is made.
The ambassadorial move comes nearly a year after Nigeria recalled all of its foreign envoys without immediate replacements, leading to concerns over the country’s diplomatic presence and engagement on the global stage.
According to information obtained, résumés of the proposed ambassadors have already been submitted to relevant authorities, and background checks are ongoing. These checks are an essential part of the selection process, ensuring that only individuals with a clean slate and appropriate credentials are chosen to represent the country diplomatically.
A senior government official, who chose to remain anonymous, explained, “Only those who successfully pass the DSS screening will be announced. The process is progressing, and we expect the official list to be made public before the end of this month.” This indicates that the FG is working towards finalizing the list soon and will likely make a formal announcement once the screening process is complete.
The decision to appoint these prominent individuals as ambassadors comes at a time when the country’s diplomatic sphere has been facing scrutiny. The absence of foreign envoys for nearly a year has left Nigeria with limited representation across the globe. This move is seen as part of the government's efforts to reassert its diplomatic presence and strengthen its global relationships, particularly as the nation seeks to address various international challenges.