The Presidency has clarified that President Bola Tinubu’s recently released ambassadorial nominees must still undergo multiple layers of screening before they can officially represent Nigeria abroad.

Speaking on Arise News’ The Morning Show on Tuesday, Demola Oshodi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Protocol, explained that the nomination list sent to the Senate is only one part of a comprehensive vetting process.

Oshodi noted that the Senate will ask the necessary questions in line with long-standing legislative procedures, adding that he cannot predict how easily the lawmakers will approve the nominees.

“I want to believe that they will go through the right process of vetting each of these candidates, ensuring that the right questions are asked and answered. This is a process that has been in place forever,” he said.

He further revealed that the nominees will also undergo security screening by the Department of State Services (DSS), as well as checks by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Beyond Nigeria’s internal processes, Oshodi emphasized that the countries where the nominees are being deployed will also conduct their own evaluations.

“These countries have a right to accept or reject them. They go through their own screening process also," he said.

 

According to him, only candidates who successfully pass all stages of scrutiny will be cleared to assume duty.

He stressed the importance of getting ambassadors in place, noting that Nigeria needs capable envoys who can advance the nation’s economic, cultural, and security interests.

President Tinubu recently forwarded the list of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation.