Senate Confirms 64 Career, Non-Career Ambassadors

The Senate on Thursday confirmed the appointments of 34 career ambassadors and 30 non-career ambassadors following the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The confirmation was concluded after the committee’s report was presented and adopted during plenary while the Senate sat as the Committee of the Whole.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu’s request for the confirmation of the ambassadorial nominees was read on the floor of the Senate on December 4.

Presenting the report, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Sani Bello, said the nominees demonstrated wide-ranging and in-depth knowledge of international relations, diplomacy and Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives during the screening exercise.

Those confirmed as career ambassadors include Amb. Nwaobiala Chukwuemeka (Abia), Betso Maimunah Ibrahim (Adamawa), Monica Enebechi (Anambra), Amb. Mohammed Lele (Bauchi), Syndoph Endoni (Bayelsa), Amb. Ahmed Monguno (Borno), Amb. Adams Jane Bassey (Cross River) and Amb. Clark-Omeru Alexandra Efe (Delta).

Others include Geoffrey Ijiomah Chima David (Ebonyi), Odumah Yvonne Ehinosen (Edo), Amb. Wasa Segun Ige (Edo), Amb. Adeyemi Adebayo Emmanuel (Ekiti), Amb. Okechukwu Kingsley Onaga (Enugu), Amb. Magaji Umar (Jigawa), Amb. Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna), Amb. Abdussalam Habu Zayyad (Kano), Amb. Shehu Ilu Barde (Katsina), Amb. Aminu Nasir (Katsina) and Abubakar Musa Musa (Kebbi).

Also are Amb. Haidara Mohammed Idris (Kebbi), Amb. Bako Adamu Umar (Kogi), Amb. Sulu-Gambari Olatunji Ahmed (Kwara), Amb. Ramat Mohammed Omobolanle (Lagos), Amb. Shaga John Shamah (Nasarawa), Sallau Hamza Mohammed (Niger) and Amb. Ibrahim Danlami (Niger).

The rest are Adeola Ibrahim Mopelola (Ogun), Reuben Abimbola Samuel (Ondo), Amb. Akande Wahab Adekola (Osun), Amb. Arewa Esther (Oyo), Amb. Gargadi Joseph John (Plateau), Amb. Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata (Rivers), Danladi Yakubu Nyaku (Taraba) and Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru (Sokoto).

Those confirmed as non-career ambassadors include Senator Grace Bent (Adamawa), Sen. Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom), Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu (Abia), Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Anambra), Prof. Mahmud Yakubu (Bauchi), Amb. Philip Ikurusi (Bayelsa), Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue), Vice Adm. Ibok-Ette Ibas (rtd) (Cross River) and Reno Omokri (Delta).

Among those cleared are also Abasi Braimah (Edo), Mrs. Erelu Adebayo (Ekiti), Olumilua Oluwayimika Ayotunwa (Ekiti), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Mrs. Chioma Ohaikim (Imo), Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) (Kano), Tasiu Maigari (Katsina), Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu (Kogi) and Olufemi Pedro (Lagos).

Others include Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu (Nasarawa), Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo), Amb. Joseph Olusola Iji (Ondo), Olufemi Fani-Kayode (Osun), Prof. Isaac Adewole (Osun), Mrs. Fatima Florence Ajimobi (Oyo), Mrs. Sulola Akande (Oyo), Dr. Yakubu Gambo (Plateau), Sen. Nora Daduut (Plateau), Onueze Chukwujinka Okocha (Rivers), Dr. Kulu Haruna Abubakar (Sokoto) and Jerrymon Samuel Manwe (Taraba).

The Senate also recalled that earlier in the week, a first batch of nominees had been cleared by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, including Ayodele Oke (Oyo), Amin Mohammed Dalhatu (Jigawa) and retired Colonel Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun).

During deliberations, Senator Sahabi Yau (Zamfara North) raised a constitutional point of order, citing Sections 14(3) and 15(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provide for the federal character principle and national unity in public appointments.

He expressed concern that Zamfara State was not represented among either the career or non-career ambassadors.

Responding, Senate President Godswill Akpabio sustained the Point of Order and assured the chamber that the list of ambassadorial nominees was not exhaustive.

He explained that Nigeria operates both resident and non-resident diplomatic missions and that additional nominations would be forwarded to the Senate.

Akpabio further assured that no state would be excluded, reiterating the administration’s commitment to the federal character principle.

The Senate President also urged lawmakers to maintain decorum during plenary, noting that the chamber was still in mourning following the loss of a colleague, calling for sobriety and a sense of national responsibility.

Akpabio congratulated the confirmed ambassadors and urged them to serve Nigeria with dedication, integrity and patriotism, while projecting the country positively in their respective postings.

The Senate also commended the Committee on Foreign Affairs for a thorough screening exercise and wished the newly confirmed ambassadors success in their diplomatic assignments.