The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Mr Joseph Tegbe as Minister of Power following their screening during plenary.
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The confirmations followed consideration by the Senate sitting as the Committee of the Whole.
Enikanolaiye was confirmed after lawmakers reviewed his diplomatic background and questioned him on Nigeria’s foreign policy priorities, particularly the safety of Nigerians abroad and the country’s international image.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed concern over attacks on Nigerians in South Africa and other forms of hostility faced by citizens in some foreign countries.
He said the Senate was deeply worried about recent developments affecting Nigeria’s image and the treatment of Nigerians abroad.
“However, we are deeply concerned about recent international developments affecting Nigeria’s image. For instance, the killings in South Africa have greatly agitated our minds,” Akpabio said.
“The Senate even considered the possibility of sending a delegation to the South African Parliament. The situation is troubling. We are not happy. While we allow other countries to come here, do business and prosper, our citizens are being attacked abroad. Nigerians are being killed, and their businesses destroyed.”
Akpabio also raised concerns about restrictions faced by Nigerians in some neighbouring countries, including policies that make it difficult for them to open businesses.
He urged Enikanolaiye to take a holistic view of Nigeria’s foreign relations and work toward improving the country’s global standing.
“This raises serious questions about what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is doing. Now that you are here, we expect you to take a holistic view of these issues and work towards improving Nigeria’s global image.
“Our influence in West Africa appears to be waning, and this should not be the case. I hope you understand our concerns,” Akpabio added.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Sani Bello, endorsed Enikanolaiye’s nomination, describing him as a competent career diplomat.
According to Bello, Enikanolaiye has served in the foreign service for about 40 years and has demonstrated strong diplomatic capacity.
“He has served in the foreign service for about 40 years. I also had the privilege of working with him when he was Acting High Commissioner to India.
“His diplomatic capacity and ability to engage foreign nationals are commendable,” Bello said.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole also spoke on Nigeria’s foreign policy, saying the country had invested heavily in the liberation and stability of other African nations but had not always received reciprocal treatment.
He said recent attacks on Nigerians in South Africa showed the need for a stronger foreign policy that places Nigerian citizens at the centre of diplomatic engagements.
Oshiomhole said he was encouraged by President Bola Tinubu’s indication that Nigeria’s foreign policy would now prioritise Nigeria and Nigerians rather than Africa as a whole.
In his remarks, Enikanolaiye outlined the Federal Government’s engagements with South Africa and Ghana over attacks on Nigerians in both countries.
He also pledged to support efforts to simplify Nigeria’s visa process in order to attract more investors.
The Senate also confirmed Joseph Tegbe as Minister of Power after extensive deliberations on Nigeria’s electricity challenges.
During his screening, lawmakers noted that although Nigeria’s installed generation capacity exceeds 13,000 megawatts, actual supply often remains below 4,500 megawatts due to weak transmission and distribution systems.
Responding to questions, Tegbe expressed confidence that Nigerians would begin to see visible improvements in the power sector within three to six months.
He said President Tinubu and Nigerians expected measurable progress and pledged to introduce immediate reforms to address the country’s long-standing electricity problems.
“My promise to Nigeria and to this chamber is that Nigerians will see visible improvement in the sector,” Tegbe said.
He pledged to conduct independent diagnostics of the power sector and promote transparency, accountability and stronger coordination among the Ministry of Power, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Transmission Company of Nigeria and other stakeholders.
Tegbe said Nigeria’s electricity crisis was not only technical but also linked to governance, capitalisation, sustainability, gas supply and commercial inefficiencies.
He identified recurring grid collapses as evidence of weak transmission systems, ageing infrastructure, unstable frequency control and inadequate regulatory enforcement.
According to him, gas shortages, transmission bottlenecks and poor coordination have continued to keep electricity generation below installed capacity.
Tegbe promised to stabilise the national grid, modernise infrastructure, improve commercial frameworks and enforce accountability across the electricity value chain.
He also said tariff reforms would protect vulnerable households while balancing sustainability, investor confidence and sector efficiency.
The minister further pledged support for sub-national investments in mini-grids, solar expansion and state participation under the Electricity Act.
Senators, however, warned that entrenched interests, including generator importers and underperforming distribution companies, could resist meaningful reforms in the sector.
Akpabio urged Tegbe to avoid bureaucratic traps and prioritise lasting solutions over what he described as a contract-driven maintenance culture.
He said stable electricity remained critical to industrialisation, national security, economic growth and Nigeria’s development aspirations.
The Senate President also criticised exploitative billing practices by electricity providers and pay television companies, questioning why Nigerians pay for unused services while consumers in other countries enjoy fairer billing systems.
Akpabio urged Tegbe to address estimated billing and unfair daily deductions, stressing that Nigerians deserve stronger consumer protection in both the power and telecommunications sectors.
He thanked President Tinubu for the nominations, describing the confirmed ministers as suitable choices for their respective national assignments.
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