The Senate has confirmed 64 out of 65 nominees for appointment as Career and Non Career Ambassadors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The confirmation followed consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs presented by its chairman, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello.
Senator Bello said the committee screened all the nominees and found them suitable for appointment. He added that the process complied with relevant laws and guidelines governing diplomatic postings. According to the report, 34 nominees were confirmed as Career Ambassadors while 30 were cleared as Non Career Ambassadors.
Those confirmed as Career Ambassadors include Nwaobiala Ezenwa Chukwuemeka from Abia, Betso Maimunah Ibrahim from Adamawa and Monica Okwuchukwu Enebechi from Anambra. Others are Mohammed Mahmud Lele from Bauchi, Ahmed Mohammed Monguno from Borno, Adams Jane Bassey from Cross River and Sulu Gambari Olatunji Ahmed from Kwara.
The list also features Ramat Mohammed Omobolanle from Lagos, Adeyemi Adebayo Emmanuel from Ekiti, Okechukwu Kingsley Onaga from Enugu and Abdussalam Habu Zayyad from Kano. Shehu Ilu Barde from Katsina, Haidara Mohammed Idris from Kebbi, Bako Adamu Umar from Kogi, Shaga John Shamah from Nasarawa and Ibrahim Danlami from Niger were equally confirmed.
Other confirmed Career Ambassadors are Reuben Abimbola Samuel from Ondo, Akande Wahab Adekola from Osun, Luther Ogbomode Ayo Kalata from Rivers, Danladi Yakubu Nyaku from Taraba and Bello Dogon Daji Haliru from Sokoto.
Among the Non Career Ambassadors are several prominent politicians, former security chiefs and technocrats. They include former Senate Minority Leader Ita S. J. Enang, former Abia State Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu and former INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmud Yakubu. Also confirmed are former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas (rtd), former Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (rtd) and former Ondo lawmaker Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.
The Senate also cleared Chief Olufemi Fani Kayode, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole, Mr. Reno Omokri and former Lagos Deputy Governor Olufemi Pedro as Non Career Ambassadors. Others on the list include former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Mrs. Ajimobi Fatima Florence, Senator Grace Bent, Senator Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut and Dr. Yakubu N. Gambo, among several nominees drawn from all six geopolitical zones.
Out of the 65 names earlier sent to the Senate by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the latest batch of Ambassador designates, only the nominee from Yobe State, Adamu Garba Talba Nangree, was not confirmed. He did not appear for the screening exercise conducted by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. Senator Bello told his colleagues that he had been in contact with the nominee and that he would be screened later in his office.
After the report was adopted, Senate President Godswill Akpabio formally declared the 64 nominees confirmed. He urged them to serve the country with diligence and to project Nigeria’s image positively in their future diplomatic postings.
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