Senate confirms Dakingari as non career ambassador
The Senate has approved the appointment of former Kebbi State governor Saidu Usman Dakingari as a non career ambassador, following a fresh nomination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the confirmation during plenary after the lawmakers considered the report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which screened Dakingari and recommended his approval. The confirmation puts an end to weeks of controversy over his earlier botched posting as ambassador to Turkey. In January, the presidency had named Dakingari among new ambassador designates and announced his posting to Turkey, claiming the appointments were drawn from 68 envoys confirmed by the Senate in December 2025. It later emerged that his name was not on the original list screened and approved by the upper chamber, forcing the presidency to withdraw the announcement and blame a “naming mix up.” To […]