The Senate has confirmed 34 career ambassadors and 30 non-career ambassadorial nominees, reinforcing Nigeria’s diplomatic corps ahead of critical international engagements.
The approval followed the presentation and consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Committee of the Whole on Thursday. President Bola Tinubu had formally submitted the list for confirmation on December 4.
Presenting the report, Committee Chairman Senator Sani Bello praised the nominees for their deep knowledge and experience in international diplomacy, noting their readiness to represent Nigeria effectively abroad.
Career ambassadors
Those confirmed as career ambassadors are
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)
Amb. Clark-Omeru Alexandra Efe (Delta)
Goeffrey 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. Amínu Nasir (Katsina)
Abubakar Musa Musa (Kebbi)
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)
Amb. Ibrahim Danlami (Niger)
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)
Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru (Sokoto).
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Non-career ambassadors
Senator Grace Bent (Adamawa)
Sen. Ita Enang (Alwa-Ibom)
Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu (Abia)
Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu (Anambra)
Prof. Mahmud Yakubu (Bauchi)
Amb. Philip Ikurusi (Bayelsa)
Mr Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue)
Vice Adm. Ibas Ibok-Ette (Cross River)
Mr Reno Omokri (Delta)
Abasi Braimah (Edo).
Mrs Erelu Adebayo (Ekiti)
Olumilua Oluwayimika Ayotunwa (Ekiti)
Ugwuanyi Ifeanyi (Enugu)
Mrs Chioma Ohaikim (Imo)
Retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (Kano)
Tasiu Maigari (Kastina)
Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu (Kogi)
Olufemi Pedro (Lagos)
Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu (Nasarawa)
Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo)
Amb. Joseph Olusola lji (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)
Jerrymon Samuel Manwe (Taraba).
Point of Order
Senator Sahabi Ya’u (Zamfara North) raised a constitutional concern, noting that sections 14(3) and 15(4) of the 1999 Constitution require observance of federal character in appointments. Ya’u highlighted that Zamfara was absent from the ambassadorial list and urged the administration to consider the state in future nominations.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio sustained the point of order, assuring members that the current list was not exhaustive and that Nigeria’s numerous diplomatic missions would see further nominations. He emphasized that no state would be left out, reiterating the administration’s commitment to federal character.
Akpabio called on the confirmed ambassadors to serve Nigeria diligently and leave lasting legacies in their diplomatic postings. The Senate commended the Foreign Affairs Committee for its work and urged the newly confirmed envoys to positively project Nigeria’s image on the international stage.
