Senate confirms Fani-Kayode, Omokri, 62 others as ambassadors

The Senate on Thursday confirmed the nomination of 64 nominees 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).

In his presentation, Senator Bello said the committee screened the nominees and found them suitable for appointment, noting that their nominations complied with relevant provisions of the law and extant guidelines governing diplomatic postings.

According to the report, 34 of the nominees were confirmed as Career Ambassadors, while 30 others were cleared as Non-Career Ambassadors.

Among those confirmed as Career Ambassadors are 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 include 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 prominent political figures and technocrats as Non-Career Ambassadors. They include 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.

Also confirmed were 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 last batch of 65 Ambassadors-designate transmitted to the Senate by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, only the nominee representing Yobe state, Adamu Garba Talba Nangree, has not been confirmed.