The Senate on Thursday confirmed the nomination of 64 persons for appointment as Career and Non-Career Ambassadors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The confirmation followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, presented by its chairman, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger North).
Presenting the report, Senator Bello said the committee screened the nominees and found them suitable for appointment, adding that their nominations complied with relevant laws and existing guidelines governing diplomatic postings.
Read Also: Court grants ex-Labour Minister Ngige bail over alleged N2.2b fraud
The report indicated that 34 nominees were confirmed as Career Ambassadors, while 30 others were cleared as Non-Career Ambassadors.
Those confirmed as Career Ambassadors include Amb. Nwaobiala Ezenwa Chukwuemeka (Abia), Betso Maimunah Ibrahim (Adamawa), Monica Okwuchukwu Enebechi (Anambra), Amb. Mohammed Mahmud Lele (Bauchi), Amb. Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), Amb. Adams Jane Bassey (Cross River), Amb. Sulu-Gambari Olatunji Ahmed (Kwara) and Amb. Ramat Mohammed Omobolanle (Lagos).
Others are Amb. Adeyemi Adebayo Emmanuel (Ekiti), Amb. Okechukwu Kingsley Onaga (Enugu), Amb. Abdussalam Habu Zayyad (Kano), Amb. Shehu Ilu Barde (Katsina), Amb. Haidara Mohammed Idris (Kebbi), Amb. Bako Adamu Umar (Kogi), Amb. Shaga John Shamah (Nasarawa), Amb. Ibrahim Danlami (Niger), Reuben Abimbola Samuel (Ondo), Amb. Akande Wahab Adekola (Osun), Amb. Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata (Rivers), Danladi Yakubu Nyaku (Taraba) and Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru (Sokoto).
The Senate also confirmed several prominent political figures and technocrats as Non-Career Ambassadors, including former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Ita S.J. Enang (Akwa Ibom); former Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu; former INEC Chairman, Prof. Alhaji Mahmud Yakubu; 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 F. Ibrahim.
Others confirmed are Chief Olufemi Fani-Kayode, Prof. Isaac F. Adewole, Mr. Reno Omokri, Chief Olufemi Pedro, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Mrs. Ajimobi Fatima Florence, Senator Grace Bent, Senator Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut, Dr. Yakubu N. Gambo and several others drawn from across the six geopolitical zones.
Of the 65 ambassadors-designate forwarded to the Senate by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, only the nominee from Yobe State, Adamu Garba Talba Nangree, was not confirmed.
Nangree was absent from the screening conducted by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs last week.
Senator Bello explained that the committee was in contact with the nominee and that his screening would be conducted in the chairman’s office at a later date.
Following the adoption of the report, Senate President Godswill Akpabio formally confirmed the nominees and charged them to serve Nigeria with dedication while projecting the country’s image positively in their various postings.
