By Emmanuel Kwada
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), immediate past Sole Administrator of Rivers State and former Chief of Naval Staff, alongside retired Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau, ex-Chief of Army Staff and former Minister of Interior, as non-career ambassadors in a major diplomatic reshuffle.
The nominations were announced in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary, forming part of a 65-person list 34 career and 31 non-career submitted for confirmation. This batch follows earlier submissions of 32 nominees in late November and three in mid-November, as the administration works to fill 109 vacant missions after a two-year gap.
Ibas, 65, from Nko in Cross River State, served as the 22nd Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021.
After retirement, he was Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ghana and, in March 2025, was appointed Sole Administrator of Rivers State during a political crisis, where he helped restore stability.
Dambazau, 70, from Kano State, commanded the Nigerian Army from 2008 to 2010 and later served as Minister of Interior (2015–2019). A lawyer with a PhD, he is credited with prison reforms and strengthening internal security during the fight against Boko Haram.
Other prominent non-career nominees include former Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom), Chioma Ohakim (former First Lady of Imo), Senator Grace Folashade Bent (Adamawa), and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo).
Once confirmed, the new ambassadors will be deployed to key countries including China, India, UAE, Canada, South Africa, and multilateral bodies like the United Nations, UNESCO, and African Union.
The appointments have drawn praise from APC supporters as a boost to Nigeria’s global standing, while opposition voices describe them as political rewards. Senate screening is expected to begin next week.
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