By Joy Odor Reportcircle News
The Senate sent a strong message to Nigeria’s latest batch of ambassadorial nominees on Thursday, declaring that screening before the Foreign Affairs Committee is “only half of the journey” as lawmakers concluded hours of back-to-back assessments that brought career diplomats, former ministers, political nominees and ex-service chiefs under scrutiny.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Sani Bello, wrapped up what insiders described as one of its most crowded sessions yet, featuring Senator Nora Ladi Daduut, Reno Omokri, former ministers, retired military chiefs, and senior diplomats while making it clear that the real hurdle lies ahead: full Senate confirmation.
Declaring the exercise closed, Senator Bello announced that all nominees except one from Yobe State who failed to appear had been assessed.
“We have concluded this exercise. All nominees have been screened, except one who did not show up. He can meet me in my office instead of reconvening the committee,” Bello stated, drawing the line under a long day of questioning, motions and procedural waivers.
Then came the warning that defined the day. “Taking a bow today does not guarantee clearance by the Senate. Final confirmation lies with the entire chamber at plenary,”
he said, underscoring a procedural reality often overlooked in Nigeria’s political space.
The session saw an unusually wide-ranging slate of nominees, reflecting the administration’s broad diplomatic shuffle. Those screened include:
Ambassador Ayo Luther Ogomode
Ambassador Wahab Akande
Ambassador Adam Umar Banko
Danlami Ibrahim
Reno Omokri
Senator Nora Ladi Daduut
Ambassador Mahmoud Lele Mohammed
Professor Isaac Adewole
Lieutenant-General Abdurrahman Dambazau (Rtd)
Several other former ambassadors, ministers and senior diplomats
In keeping with parliamentary custom, motions were repeatedly raised and swiftly adopted to allow many career diplomats to “take a bow and go,” particularly those with longstanding service records.
During the final round, Senator Bello posed a standard but crucial question:
“Any objections? Any petitions?”
The response from committee members came in unified echoes: None. No petitions. No objections.
The smooth ride, however, does not equal automatic approval. The nominees are now set to face the full Senate an arena where political calculations, party alignment, regional sensitivities and last-minute petitions can still alter outcomes.
With the Committee’s work concluded, the screening report will now proceed to the Senate floor, where the upper chamber will determine the fate of each nominee.
Senator Bello reiterated that the committee’s role, though significant, is only preparatory:
“We have done our part. The Senate as a whole will make the final determination.
For the nominees, Thursday’s bow may have been polite but the decisive nod rests in the hands of the full Senate in the coming days.
As Nigeria recalibrates its diplomatic presence worldwide, the final confirmation vote is expected to draw intense attention from political observers, the foreign service community, and international partners tracking the next generation of Nigeria’s envoys.
