The Senate on Tuesday confirmed former Minister of Sports, Sani Ndanusa, as a non-career ambassador/high commissioner-designate of Nigeria after lawmakers endorsed his qualifications, experience and record in public service.
The confirmation followed the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, presented by its chairman, Sani Bello (Niger North).
Presenting the report, Bello said, “We have thoroughly screened the nominee, and we are satisfied with his qualifications, exposure, conduct, character and experience.”
He added, “The nominee has a wide and in-depth knowledge of diplomacy.”
Ndanusa was Minister of Sports from December 2008 to March 2010.
Also endorsing his nomination, the Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno (Borno North), said, “I have carefully perused the résumé of the nominee, including his educational background and contributions to society in public service.”
He added, “He is eminently qualified for that position, and he is a square peg in a square hole.”
The Senate subsequently considered and approved the nomination at the Committee of the Whole.
Congratulating Ndanusa, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said, “Let me use this opportunity to congratulate Ndanusa. I wish him well in his current assignment, and I hope that God will grant him more wisdom to do as he has done in other engagements.”
Ndanusa is a registered engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria and a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management.
Also on Tuesday, the Senate advised Senator Danladi to withdraw a bill seeking to relocate a Federal Polytechnic to Nasarawa Eggon in Nasarawa State, urging him instead to sponsor fresh legislation for the establishment of a new institution in the area.
Akpabio advised while presiding over the second reading of the Federal Polytechnics Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (SB. 1065), sponsored by Danladi.
The senator had sought to relocate the institution to Nasarawa North Senatorial District, arguing that the upgrade of the Federal Polytechnic in Nasarawa West to a university had left his constituency without a federal institution of higher learning.
Presenting the bill, Danladi said, “The Federal Polytechnic in Nasarawa West Senatorial District has been upgraded to a university status, and my Bill is to urge this hallowed Chamber to relocate the upgraded Polytechnic to Nasarawa Eggon in Nasarawa North Senatorial District of Nasarawa State.”
He added, “We, in Nasarawa North Senatorial District, do not have any federal institution.”
However, Akpabio argued that the bill, as presented, could create complications because the institution being targeted for relocation had already been upgraded to a university.
He warned that moving it under the proposed amendment could effectively mean relocating the university, potentially provoking opposition from the community hosting it.
“Your bill cannot go for second reading because you are talking about relocation. It has already been upgraded to university status, so if you relocate it, you are relocating the university and the whole community will not be happy,” the Senate President said.
Akpabio advised Danladi to allow the upgraded institution to remain at its present location and sponsor a fresh bill seeking the establishment of a Federal Polytechnic in Nasarawa Eggon.
“What you need to do is to, in view of the fact that the existing federal polytechnic has been upgraded, leave it where it is, then bring a fresh Bill for a Federal Polytechnic to be created in Nasarawa Eggon,” Akpabio said.
He expressed confidence that the proposal would receive the backing of the Senate and President Bola Tinubu if pursued through the appropriate legislative process.
Danladi accepted the advice and thanked Akpabio for the clarification.
“I think that should be the best way. Your Excellency, I am most obliged for this guidance,” the senator said.
The bill was subsequently stepped down to allow the sponsor to prepare a fresh proposal seeking the establishment of a Federal Polytechnic in Nasarawa Eggon.
Furthermore, the Senate also passed two amendment bills seeking to protect and develop Nigeria’s local manufacturing and processing industries and align procurement practice with evolving international standards.
The bills, sponsored by the Senate Majority Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, are the Raw Materials Research and Development Council Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (Establishment) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
Their passage followed reconsideration by the Senate after President Bola Tinubu returned the bills to the National Assembly with observations for further legislative action.
Moving the motion for reconsideration, Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, said the National Assembly had previously passed the bills and transmitted them to the President for assent.
He said, “The National Assembly had previously passed the bills and transmitted them to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent. However, the Federal Ministry of Justice subsequently identified fundamental issues that required further legislative consideration and clarification.”
According to Bamidele, the president returned the bills to the National Assembly with observations for reconsideration and necessary amendments.
He explained that the proposed amendment to the Raw Materials Research and Development Council Act was designed to protect and develop Nigeria’s local manufacturing and processing industries.
The two amendments are expected to update the legal frameworks governing local raw-material development and procurement professional practice, with the former focused on supporting domestic industrial development and the latter on accommodating changes in international procurement standards.