By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Federal Government has reopened all 47 Federal Unity Colleges that were shut down over escalating insecurity across the country.

Recall that the schools were closed in November 2025 following mass abductions of schoolchildren and attacks in states across the North-West, North-East, North-Central, and parts of the South of the country.

The Federal Ministry of Education in a statement yesterday by Boriowo Folasade, the Director Press and Public Relations, reassured parents, guardians, and the general public that the safety, welfare, and well-being of students remained the government’s highest priority.

Many students are currently rounding off their December academic programmes, while others have successfully completed their examinations.

The reopening comes amid sustained collaboration with relevant security agencies to guarantee a safe and conducive learning environment nationwide.

“The Federal Government has reaffirmed its responsibility to protect every Nigerian child and to uphold their constitutional right to education in a secure setting. The decision to reopen the Unity Colleges reflects the administration’s determination to ensure that no child is denied access to education due to security concerns.

“Education remains a central pillar of this administration’s human capital development agenda and a key driver of national growth. Accordingly, the government remains committed to safeguarding the academic calendar.

“The successful return of students and the smooth conduct of examinations in several Unity Colleges underscore this commitment,” the statement aptly read.

The ministry expressed appreciation to parents, school administrators, and students for their cooperation and patience, and reiterated its resolve to sustain a secure, stable, and uninterrupted education system across the nation.

By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja

The Senate yesterday confirmed 64 ambassadorial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu while also subjecting newly nominated heads of key oil and gas regulatory agencies to rigorous screening, underscoring the upper chamber’s busy oversight of Nigeria’s diplomatic and economic architecture.

The ambassadorial confirmations followed the adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Sani Bello, after a Committee of the Whole session.

Presenting the report, Bello said the nominees demonstrated wide-ranging competence and deep knowledge of international diplomacy during the screening exercise, warranting their confirmation.

Among those confirmed as career ambassadors were Nwaobiala Chukwuemeka (Abia), Betso Maimunah Ibrahim (Adamawa), Monica Enebechi (Anambra), Mohammed Lele (Bauchi), Syndoph Endoni (Bayelsa), Ahmed Monguno (Borno), Adams Jane Bassey (Cross River), Clark-Omeru Alexandra Efe (Delta), Geoffrey Ijiomah Chima David (Ebonyi), Odumah Yvonne Ehinosen (Edo), Wasa Segun Ige (Edo), Adeyemi Adebayo Emmanuel (Ekiti), Okechukwu Kingsley Onaga (Enugu), Magaji Umar (Jigawa), Muhammad Saidu Dahiru (Kaduna), Abdussalam Habu Zayyad (Kano), Shehu Ilu Barde and Amínu Nasir (Katsina), Abubakar Musa Musa and Haidara Mohammed Idris (Kebbi), Bako Adamu Umar (Kogi), Sulu-Gambari Olatunji Ahmed (Kwara), Ramat Mohammed Omobolanle (Lagos), Shaga John Shamah (Nasarawa), Sallau Hamza Mohammed and Ibrahim Danlami (Niger), Adeola Ibrahim Mopelola (Ogun), Reuben Abimbola Samuel (Ondo), Akande Wahab Adekola (Osun), Arewa Esther (Oyo), Gargadi Joseph John (Plateau), Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata (Rivers), Danladi Yakubu Nyaku (Taraba) and Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru (Sokoto).

The non-career ambassadors confirmed included former senators, ex-governors, technocrats and retired military officers such as Senator Grace Bent (Adamawa), Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom), former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Reno Omokri, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (rtd), former Defence Minister Abdulrahman Dambazau, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Olufemi Fani-Kayode, former Health Minister Isaac Adewole, Fatima Ajimobi, Senator Nora Daduut and others from across the federation.

However, the exercise sparked a constitutional debate when Senator Sahabi Ya’u (Zamfara North) raised a point of order, citing Sections 14(3) and 15(4) of the 1999 Constitution on federal character and national unity. He expressed concern that Zamfara State was omitted from both the career and non-career lists, describing it as an oversight that should be corrected.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio upheld the point of order but assured that the list was not exhaustive, noting that Nigeria operates numerous resident and non-resident diplomatic missions. He pledged that additional nominations would be forwarded to ensure no state was excluded, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to federal character.

Akpabio congratulated the confirmed ambassadors and urged them to project Nigeria positively while leaving enduring legacies in their postings.

Earlier in the day, the Senate, through a Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream, Downstream and Gas), screened President Tinubu’s nominees for top oil and gas regulatory positions. Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan, nominated as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and Mr Saidu Mohammed, nominated as CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), outlined reform agendas centred on digitisation, contract enforcement and investment attraction.

Eyesan stressed that data-driven regulation, technology and stakeholder collaboration would be central to her stewardship, warning that Nigeria was “leaving value on the table” by relying on manual systems. Drawing from nearly 33 years of experience in NNPC Limited, she said effective digitisation and asset integrity frameworks were critical to boosting production and investor confidence.

Mohammed, on his part, pledged to restore discipline across the midstream and downstream value chains through strict enforcement of contracts, quality assurance and full implementation of the Gas Network Code. He emphasised meeting domestic demand before exports and attracting billions of dollars into gas infrastructure.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Senator Sumaila Kawu, described the screening as timely, noting the urgency of strengthening energy production to meet Nigeria’s development goals, while assuring continued legislative engagement with the nominees in the New Year.

Together, the confirmations and screenings reflected the Senate’s dual focus on strengthening Nigeria’s global diplomatic presence and repositioning its critical energy sector for growth and accountability.

President Bola Tinubu yesterday, transmitted the appropriation (Repeal and Re-enactment Bill 2024/2025 bill to the House of Representatives for consideration and expected approval in accordance with constitutional and appropriation process.

Reading the letter during plenary, the Deputy Speaker, Rep.

“Rt Honourable Speaker, the Bill seeks to authorize the issue from the consolidated Revenue fund of the federation of the total sum of N43,561,041,744,507.

“Comprising N1,742,786,788,150 for statutory transfers, N8,270,960,606,831 for debt service, N11,268,513,380,853 for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure and N22,278,780,968,673 for capital expenditure for the year ending 31 December 2025,” the President said.

According to the President, the bill provides a transparent and constitutionally grounded appropriation mechanism.

President Tinubu in the letter said that the appropriation is not only critical but time-sensitive expenditures necessary in advancing the well-being of Nigerians.

He further explained that the bill seeks to strengthen implementation discipline and accountability by requiring that appropriated funds are applied strictly for purposes specified in the schedules.

The House however adjourned to Thursday being 18, Dec for further consideration of the Bill.