President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Retd.), former Chief of Naval Staff and immediate past Sole Administrator of Rivers State, as a non-career ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This appointment was formally conveyed in a letter addressed to the Senate and read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Thursday, December 4, 2025. The nomination is part of President Tinubu’s latest batch of ambassadorial selections aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic presence across strategic postings worldwide.
President Tinubu urged the Senate to give swift consideration to the nominees to enable the government to fill critical diplomatic postings without delay. The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs has been directed to conduct screenings and report back within one week.
These appointments reflect the administration’s commitment to leveraging the expertise of seasoned leaders in advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives.
“The nomination of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas underscores our resolve to deploy Nigeria’s finest minds and experienced leaders to represent the nation abroad. His distinguished military career and administrative acumen will serve Nigeria well in strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations,” the statement read.
Vice Admiral Ibas’s appointment as ambassador marks a new chapter in his service to Nigeria. His wealth of experience in defense, governance and international relations positions him as a valuable asset in promoting Nigeria’s interests on the global stage.