Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Wednesday called for adequate funding of Nigerian embassies abroad.
Lawan who spoke after the Senate confirmed 40 non-career and one career ambassadors-designate recently nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari, however advised the Federal Government to consider either closure or merger of some of its foreign missions if there is no resources to properly fund them.
He argued that there is no need to send an envoy to a foreign land to represent the country without making adequate provision for the ambassador’s upkeep or the sustainable administration of such an embassy.
Meanwhile, the Senate has confirmed Debo Adeshina representing Oyo State, Oma Djebah (Delta), Ademola Seriki (Lagos), Umar Sulieman (Adamawa), Kevin Peter (Adamawa), John Usanga (Akwa Ibom), Elejah Onyeagba (Anambra), Abubakar Ibrahim (Bauchi), Philip Ikurusi (Bayelsa), Tarzoor Terhemen (Benue), Paul Adikwu (Benue), Al-Bishir Al-Hussain (Borno), Bwala Bukar (Borno) and Monique Ekpong (Cross River) for appointment as non-career ambassadors.
The Senate also confirmed the nomination of Ominyi Eze representing Ebonyi State, Yamah Musa (Edo), C. O Ugwu (Enugu), Hajara Salim (Gombe), Obiezu Chinyerem (Imo), Ali Magashi (Jigawa), M. A Markarfi (Kaduna),
Hamisu Takalmawa (Kano), Jazuli Gadalanci (Kano), Sadiya Nuhu (Kano), Yahaya Lawal (Katsina), Dare Sunday Awoniyi (Kogi), Ibrahim Laaro (Kwara), Abioye Bello (Kwara) and
Zara Umar (Kwara) for appointment as non-career ambassadors.
Other non-career ambassadorial nominees confirmed by the upper chambers include Henry Omaku (Nasarawa), Sarafa Isola (Ogun), Nimi Akinkube (Ondo), Adejaba Bello (Osun), Adeshina Alege (Oyo), Folakemi Akinyele (Oyo), Shehu Yibaikwal (Plateau), Maureen Tamuno (Rivers), Faruk Yabo (Sokoto), Adamu Hassan (Taraba) and Abubakar Moriki (Zamfara state).
Mr Suleiman Sani was also confirmed as a Career ambassador representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Senate confirms Adesina, Djebah, 38 others as ambassadors
by Sunday Aborisade, Abuja
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of 38 non-career and one career ambassadors-designate that would represent the country on foreign missions.
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had requested the approval of the Senate for the confirmation of 42 nominees.
However, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Adamu Bulkachuwa, while presenting his report, said there were irreconcilable issues with two nominees from Niger and Yobe States.
The only career ambassador-designate on the list is from the Federal Capital Territory.
Among the non-career ones are, two journalists, Messrs Debo Adesina (Oyo) and Oma Djebah (Delta)
The list also included Dare Awoniyi (Kogi), who is the son of the late Sunday Awoniyi, former Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum.
A careful observation of the list indicated that three states, (Kwara, Kano, Oyo) have three nominees each while three others, (Borno, Benue, Adamawa), got two slots each.
Twenty states had one slot each while four states had no nominee.
The full list of the non-career ambassadors-designate confirmed are, Umar Suleiman (Adamawa); Kelvin Peter (Adamawa); Chief Elejah Onyeagba (Anambra); Prof. Monique Ekpong (Cross River); Ominyi N. Eze (Ebonyi); Yamah Mohammed Musa (Edo); Maj. Gen. C. O. Ugwu (Enugu); Dr. Hajara I. Salim (Gombe); Amb. Yahaya Lawal (Katsina); Ademola Seriki (Lagos); Chief Sarafa Tunji Ishola (Ogun); Adejare Bello (Osun); John Usanga (Akwa Ibom); Hamisu Umar Takalmawa (Kano); Philip Ikurusi (Bayelsa); Hon. Tarzcor Terhemen (Benue); Al-Bishir Ibrahim Al-Hussain (Borno); Obiezu Ijeoma Chinyerem (Imo); Ali M. Magashi (Jigawa); Prof. M. A. Makarfi (Kaduna).
Others are: Henry John Omaku (Nasarawa); Sadiya Ahmad Nuhu (Kano); Adeshina Alege (Oyo); Shehu Abdullahi Yibaikwai (Plateau); Maureen Tamuno (Rivers), Faruk Yabo (Sokoto); Abubakar Moriki (Zamfara); Adamu M. Hassan (Taraba); Abubakar D. Ibrahim Siyi (Bauchi); Paul Oga Adikwu (Benue); Jazuli Imam Galadanci (Kano); Dare Sunday Awoniyi (Kogi); Ibrahim Kayode Laaro (Kwara), Abioye Bello (Kwara); Zara Maazu Umar (Kwara); Mrs. Nimi Akinkugbe (Ondo); Debo Adesina (Oyo); Ms. Folakemi Akinyele (Oyo); and Oma Djebah (Delta).
Mr Suleiman Sani (FCT) career ambassador.

By Sanni Onogu