Tinubu’s govt screens Femi Pedro, Reno Omokri, Shehu Sani, others as Ambassadorial nominees

The federal government is reportedly screening applicants for diplomatic posts at all 109 missions including 11 international consulates, 22 high commissions, and 76 embassies.

While the names of all nominees remain classified, presidency insiders say a mix of career diplomats and political appointees are on the list.

Former Minister of Aviation under the Obasanjo administration, Femi Fani-Kayode, and a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro, are reportedly among the nominees, according to a report.

Other names said to be under consideration include Fola Adeola, founder of Guaranty Trust Bank.

Presidency officials confirmed to PUNCH that several individuals have been contacted to submit their work history and personal education details as part of the vetting procedure.

The process, according to sources, is decentralised and not conducted centrally where nominees are required to report to the nearest Directorate of State Services (DSS) office for security checks.

A second source also disclosed that the vetting process is location-based, meaning nominees are contacted based on their proximity to DSS offices and asked to submit their personal information, including educational history and prior appointments.

One official said, “They’re going to announce the appointments soon. They are being screened as we speak. The names of the nominees are highly classified for now because not every one of the names listed will eventually make it through.

“FFK [Femi Fani-Kayode] is on the list. These are some of the controversial names that have been put forward as well. Then there is Fola Adeola [founder of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc] and Femi Pedro too. They’re moving on with the process more quickly this time.”

Another official blamed the lengthy process on the need for vetting to prevent issues that could harm the nation’s reputation abroad.

“The nominees are being vetted, and background checks are being conducted on them. It is usually done so that the nominees will not have any security issues and their deployment will not have a negative impact on the country,” the official said.

President Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, who earlier spoke about the delays, also said nominations for ambassadorial roles must be thorough before a final list is transmitted to the National Assembly.

“Don’t forget that the ambassadorial list has two components. There are career ambassadors and political ambassadors. The foreign affairs list and the consolidated list will still go through certain processes before they are released,” Onanuga said.

The Federal Government has not appointed ambassadors since President Bola Tinubu recalled over 83 envoys in September 2023 following a comprehensive review of the country’s foreign policy.

Another reports says the Federal Government has commenced the screening process for candidates nominated for diplomatic roles in a bid to fill the vacant roles for its 76 embassies and 22 high commissions worldwide.

Nominees have been asked to report to the DSS offices nearest to them for security checks. Some have reportedly been contacted to provide personal education and work history.

A reliable source disclosed that two former south-eastern governors, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, have been screened for the role.

The source added that Shehu Sani, who recently joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former presidential aide Reno Omokri, are among the nominees who have also been screened.

The source also confirmed that 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 for their prospective national assignments.

It would be recalled that in September 2023, President Bola Tinubu recalled all Nigerian ambassadors, both career and non-career.

Nearly two years after their recall, the presidency, in March 2025, said that their replacements would announced “very soon.”

A recent report had it that background checks were being conducted on the nominees, with information garnered from the screening shared with relevant agencies within the presidency and legislature.

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.

However, with the ongoing screening exercise, the Federal Government may soon announce the names of the new diplomats and their portfolios.