Senate Confirms Enikanolaiye, Tegbe as Ministers

The Nigerian Senate confirmed Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as Minister of Power on Wednesday, following their screening during a plenary session acting as the Committee of the Whole.

The approvals came a day after President Bola Tinubu transmitted separate letters requesting Senate confirmation, read on the floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The nominations align with constitutional requirements under Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. Lawmakers questioned both nominees on key national priorities before endorsing them unanimously.

Enikanolaiye, a career diplomat from Kogi State with over three decades of service, including postings in Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Ottawa, London, and New Delhi, previously served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and reached the rank of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During screening, senators raised alarms over attacks on Nigerians in South Africa and Ghana, as well as business restrictions in neighboring countries. Akpabio voiced deep concern, stating, "However, we are deeply concerned about recent...