Federal Government has commenced the screening process for candidates nominated for diplomatic roles to fill the vacant positions for its 76 embassies and 22 high commissions, with two former South-East Governors, Rt. Hon (Dr.) Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi( Enugu state) and Dr Okezie Ikpeazu(Abia state) who made the list of the nominees ,screened .
It was gathered that the nominees were asked to report to the Department of State Security (DSS) offices nearest to them for security checks. Some have reportedly been contacted to provide personal education and work history.
Pix: From L – R, Ugwuanyi, Omokri and Ikpeazu
Shehu Sani, who recently joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former presidential aide Reno Omokri, were among the nominees who have also been screened.
former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro and former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, have already gone through the screening process and have been cleared
President Bola Tinubu had in September 2023 recalled all Nigerian ambassadors, both career and non-career. Two years after their recall, the presidency, in March 2025, said that their replacements would be announced “very soon.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, blamed the delay in appointing Ambassadors on a lack of funds as foreign officials and other stakeholders raised concerns about the void in diplomatic leadership at various foreign missions.
It is expected that with the ongoing screening exercise, the Federal Government will soon announce the names the new Ambassadors.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama