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* Peter Eze, economists and technocrats among high-capacity nominees approved
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
The Senate on Thursday confirmed Hon. Ayo Hulayat Omidiran as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), alongside 36 other nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu to constitute the full board of the commission.
The confirmations followed the presentation of a detailed screening report by the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, chaired by Senator Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East), during plenary presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Presenting the committee’s report, Senator Onyesoh said Omidiran and the 36 state representatives, including Hon. Peter Ogbonna Eze (Enugu), was thoroughly screened on November 13, 2025, and found to be “eminently qualified, competent and persons of proven integrity.”
Among the nominees cleared was Hon. Peter Ogbonna Eze, appointed as the Federal Commissioner representing Enugu State.
Eze, an accomplished economist and public administrator from Aji in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of the state, is regarded as one of the standout technocrats on the list.
He currently serves as the Executive Assistant to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and has built a diverse career across international business, media, philanthropy and development administration.
Alongside Omidiran and Eze, the Senate confirmed the following nominees representing their respective states: Lawal Ya’u Roni (Jigawa); Abubakar Atiku Bunu (Kebbi); Eludayo Eluyemi (Osun); Abdulwasiu Kayode Bawalla (Lagos); Obinna Oriaku (Abia); and Bema Olvadi Madayi (Adamawa).
Others are Dora Ebong (Akwa Ibom); Nnoli Nkechi Gloria (Anambra); Babangida Adamu Gwana (Bauchi); Tonye Okio (Bayelsa); Aligba Eugene Tarkende (Benue); Modu Mustapha (Borno); Dr. Stella Odey Ekpo (Cross River); Ederin Lovette Idisi (Delta); Nwokpor Vincent Nduka (Ebonyi); Victor Sabor Edoror (Edo); Sola Fokanle (Ekiti); and Ibrahim Baba Mairiga (Gombe).
They also included Jerry Alagbaoso (Imo); Ruth Jumai Ango (Kaduna); Muhammad Awwal Nayya (Kano); Anas Isah (Katsina); Bello Idris Eneye (Kogi); Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi (Kwara); Isah Jibrin (Niger); Comrade Ajimudu Bola (Ondo); Prince Ayodeji Aleshinloye (Oyo); Pam Bolman (Plateau); Aaron Chukwuemeka (Rivers); Aminu Tambar (Sokoto); Bobboi Bala Kaigama (Taraba); Jibir Maigari (Yobe); Sani Garba (Zamfara); and Solomon Ayuba Dagami (FCT).
Onyesoh disclosed that the committee received no petitions or adverse security findings against any nominee.
He said: “The nominees demonstrated capacity, expertise and a strong understanding of the Federal Character Commission’s mandate.
“Their appointments will strengthen the commission’s ability to review outdated statutes and harmonise them with current realities.”
Onyesoh expressed confidence that with Omidiran at the helm and technocrats like Eze on the board, the FCC is positioned for the long-awaited institutional reforms and more effective oversight of federal appointments and equitable resource distribution.
He disclosed that the committee received no petitions or adverse security findings against any nominee.
According to him, “The nominees demonstrated capacity, expertise and a strong understanding of the Federal Character Commission’s mandate.
“Their appointments will strengthen the commission’s ability to review outdated statutes and harmonise them with current realities.”
![](https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=*Akwa%20Ibom%20Achieves%20Another%20Milestone%20as%20FG%20Designates%20Victor%20Attah%20Airport%20International%20Airport*nAkwa%20Ibom%20Achieves%20Another%20Milestone%20as%20FG%20Designates%20Victor%20Attah%20Airport%20International%20Airport%20<!--%20wp:html%20--><div%20class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons"></div><p><strong>*Airport%20to%20receive,%20process%20international%20passengers</strong></p><p><strong>*Elated%20Gov%20Eno%20thanks%20FG,%20says%20state%20govt%20will%20build%20cargo%20terminal,%20residential%20houses%20for%20airport%20staff</strong></p><p><strong>*Targets%20Q1%202026%20for%20first%20international%20flight</strong></p><p>Kasim%20Sumaina%20in%20Abuja</p><p>The%20Federal%20Government%20on%20Thursday%20designated%20the%20airport%20in%20Uyo,%20known%20as%20Victor%20Attah%20Airport%20as%20international%20airport%20which%20would%20henceforth%20receive%20and%20process%20international%20passengers.</p><p>The%20airport,%20before%20now%20was%20local,%20and%20with%20this%20approval,%20the%20process%20for%20converting%20to%20full%20international%20operations%20would%20commence.</p><p>The%20government,%20through%20the%20minister%20of%20aviation%20and%20aerospace%20development,%20Festus%20Keyamo,%20while%20making%20the%20announcement%20in%20Abuja%20when%20he%20hosted%20the%20governor%20of%20Akwa%20Ibom%20State,%20Pastor%20Umo%20Eno,%20said%20the%20airport%20has%20all%20standard%20facilities%20that%20would%20make%20it%20compete%20with%20other%20international%20airports%20across%20the%20country.</p><p>Keyamo%20also%20said%20the%20airport%20has%20all%20the%20modern%20facilities%20with%20a%20standard%20MRO%20and%20runaway%20of%20over%20three%20kilometres,%20which%20can%20accommodate%20bigger%20aircraft.</p><p>According%20to%20him,%20“With%20the%20facilities%20available%20at%20the%20airport,%20there%20is%20no%20reason%20why%20Uyo%20airport%20should%20not%20be%20designated%20as%20international%20airport%20to%20process%20international%20passengers.</p><p>“That%20is%20why%20we%20are%20here%20today%20with%20all%20relevant%20government%20agencies%20including%20the%20customs,%20NiMet,%20FAAN,%20NCAA%20and%20others%20to%20set%20up%20a%20joint%20team%20that%20would%20commence%20the%20process%20of%20transmitting%20from%20local%20operations%20to%20international%20operations.</p><figure%20class="wp-block-image%20size-large%20is-resized"><img%20width="741"%20height="1024"%20src="https://global.ariseplay.com/amg/www.thisdaylive.com/uploads/image-2181-741x1024.png"%20alt=""%20class="wp-image-1150063"%20/></figure><p>“What%20we%20want%20to%20tell%20you%20today%20is%20that%20we%20are%20designating%20Uyo%20airport%20as%20an%20international%20airport.%20What%20is%20left%20is%20to%20tick%20the%20boxes%20and%20set%20a%20date%20for%20operations%20to%20begin.”</p><p>He%20said:%20“We%20will%20come%20to%20Uyo%20with%20the%20team%20and%20representatives%20of%20all%20relevant%20agencies%20that%20work%20at%20the%20airport%20to%20access%20the%20facilities%20and%20tick%20the%20boxes%20for%20what%20is%20available%20and%20what%20would%20be%20needed%20for%20the%20airport%20to%20fully%20become%20an%20international%20airport.”</p><p>While%20responding,%20the%20governor,%20appreciated%20the%20federal%20government%20and%20the%20minister%20for%20the%20approval%20and%20noted%20that%20the%20airport%20is%20well%20equipped%20for%20the%20international%20operations.</p><p>Eno,%20further%20stated%20that%20the%20Akwa%20Ibom%20State%20government%20will%20construct%20a%20cargo%20terminal%20and%20residential%20buildings%20for%20the%20staff%20of%20the%20airport.</p><p>“What%20we%20are%20building%20is%20an%20ecosystem%20at%20the%20airport.%20We%20want%20everything%20within%20the%20airport%20environment.%20We%20will%20build%20a%20cargo%20terminal,%20which%20is%20already%20captured%20in%20the%202026%20budget.</p><p>“We%20will%20also%20ensure%20the%20100%20units%20of%20houses%20under%20construction%20be%20used%20to%20ensure%20the%20proper%20settling%20down%20of%20workers%20at%20the%20airport.%20My%20target%20is%20by%20end%20of%20first%20quarter%20of%202026,%20let%20the%20first%20international%20plane%20take%20off%20from%20Uyo.”</p><p>With%20the%20designation,%20Governor%20Eno,%20through%20sustained%20engagement%20and%20strategic%20leadership,%20has%20again%20delivered%20a%20significant%20win%20for%20the%20state.%20The%20achievement%20further%20strengthens%20Akwa%20Ibom’s%20rising%20profile%20as%20a%20regional%20aviation%20hub%20and%20underscores%20his%20administration’s%20unwavering%20commitment%20to%20opening%20new%20doors%20of%20opportunity%20for%20citizens,%20investors,%20and%20visitors%20alike.</p><p>This%20landmark%20development%20elevates%20Victor%20Attah%20International%20Airport%20into%20the%20category%20of%20Nigerian%20airports%20authorised%20for%20international%20traffic,%20unlocking%20vast%20opportunities%20for%20global%20connectivity,%20tourism%20expansion,%20business%20growth,%20and%20increased%20foreign%20investment.</p><p>The%20Victor%20Attah%20International%20Airport,%20formerly%20Akwa%20Ibom%20International%20Airport,%20is%20located%20near%20Uyo,%20the%20capital%20of%20Akwa%20Ibom%20State%20in%20Nigeria.</p><p>Renamed%20in%202018%20to%20honor%20former%20governor%20Obong%20Victor%20Attah,%20it%20was%20first%20opened%20in%202009%20and%20has%20been%20expanded%20to%20handle%20large%20aircraft.%20The%20airport%20serves%20as%20a%20regional%20hub%20and%20a%20showcase%20for%20the%20area’s%20culture%20and%20infrastructure.</p><p> 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