ABUJA: The Senate has confirmed 34 career ambassadors and 30 non-career ambassadorial nominees.
The confirmation followed the presentation and consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs at the Committee of the Whole on Thursday.
President Bola Tinubu’s letter requesting confirmation of the nominees was read on the floor of the Senate on December 4.
Presenting the report, Chairman of the committee, Senator Sani Bello, said the nominees demonstrated wide and in-depth knowledge of international diplomacy during the screening exercise.
Those confirmed as career ambassadors are Ambassador Nwaobiala Chukwuemeka (Abia), Betso Maimunah Ibrahim (Adamawa), Monica Enebechi (Anambra), Ambassador Mohammed Lele (Bauchi) and Syndoph Endoni (Bayelsa).
Others include Ambassador Ahmed Monguno (Borno), Ambassador Adams Jane Bassey (Cross River), Ambassador Clark-Omeru Alexandra Efe (Delta), Goeffrey Ijiomah Chima David (Ebonyi), Odumah Yvonne Ehinosen (Edo), Ambassador Wasa Segun Ige (Edo) and Ambassador Adeyemi Adebayo Emmanuel (Ekiti).
Also confirmed were Ambassador Okechukwu Kingsley Onaga (Enugu), Ambassador Magaji Umar (Jigawa), Ambassador Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna), Ambassador Abdussalam Habu Zayyad (Kano), Ambassador Shehu Ilu Barde (Katsina), Ambassador Aminu Nasir (Katsina), Abubakar Musa Musa (Kebbi), Ambassador Haidara Mohammed Idris (Kebbi), Ambassador Bako Adamu Umar (Kogi) and Ambassador Sulu-Gambari Olatunji Ahmed (Kwara).
Ambassador Ramat Mohammed Omobolanle (Lagos), Ambassador Shaga John Shamah (Nasarawa), Sallau Hamza Mohammed (Niger), Ambassador Ibrahim Danlami (Niger), Adeola Ibrahim Mopelola (Ogun), Reuben Abimbola Samuel (Ondo) and Ambassador Akande Wahab Adekola (Osun) were also confirmed.
Others on the list include Ambassador Arewa Esther (Oyo), Ambassador Gargadi Joseph John (Plateau), Ambassador Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata (Rivers), Danladi Yakubu Nyaku (Taraba) and Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru (Sokoto).
The non-career ambassadors confirmed are Senator Grace Bent (Adamawa), Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom), Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu (Abia), Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Anambra), Professor Mahmud Yakubu (Bauchi), Ambassador Philip Ikurusi (Bayelsa), Mr Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue), Vice Admiral Ibas Ibok-Ette (Cross River), Mr Reno Omokri (Delta) and Abasi Braimah (Edo).
Others are Mrs Erelu Adebayo (Ekiti), Olumilua Oluwayimika Ayotunwa (Ekiti), Ugwuanyi Ifeanyi (Enugu), Mrs Chioma Ohaikim (Imo), retired Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau (Kano), Tasiu Maigari (Katsina), Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu (Kogi), Olufemi Pedro (Lagos), Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu (Nasarawa), Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo) and Ambassador Joseph Olusola Iji (Ondo).
Also confirmed were Olufemi Fani-Kayode (Osun), Professor Isaac Adewole (Osun), Mrs Fatima Florence Ajimobi (Oyo), Mrs Sulola Akande (Oyo), Dr Yakubu Gambo (Plateau), Senator Nora Daduut (Plateau), Onueze Chukwujinka Okocha (Rivers), Dr Kulu Haruna Abubakar (Sokoto) and Jerrymon Samuel Manwe (Taraba).
However, Senator Sahabi Ya’u (Zamfara North) raised a constitutional point of order, citing Sections 14(3) and 15(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandate the observance of the federal character principle and promotion of national unity in government appointments.
He expressed concern that Zamfara State was not represented among either the career or non-career nominees, describing the omission as an oversight and urging that the state be considered in subsequent nominations.
In response, President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, sustained the point of order and assured that the list was not exhaustive, explaining that Nigeria operates both resident and non-resident diplomatic missions.
He assured that additional nominations would be forwarded to the Senate in due course, stressing that no state would be left out and reaffirming the administration’s commitment to the federal character principle.
Akpabio called on the newly confirmed ambassadors to serve Nigeria diligently and leave lasting legacies in their postings.
The Senate commended the Committee on Foreign Affairs for its work and urged the ambassadors to project Nigeria’s image positively on the international stage.
