The Federal Government has deployed 44 career ambassadors-designate in their respective countries of accreditation.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olusola Enikaolaye, however, added that the envoys were yet to resume in their countries of assignment because of the delay in the agreemo-a memorandum from one country to another agreeing to the appointment of an ambassador.
The Permanent Secretary explained on Monday in Abuja that the ambassadors-designate would resume when agreements have been obtained from the prospective countries.
He said, “There are three categories of ambassadors that President Muhammadu Buhari has already approved. The first set was announced publicly and those are the ones going to International organizations in New York, Geneva, and the Africa Union in Addis Ababa.
“Prof. Mohammed Tijani, the New Permanent Representative in New York has already assumed duty, Ambassador A.A Kadir an Ambassador and Permanent Representative in Geneva had submitted his letter of credence and assumed duty.
“The third one is amb. Bankole Adeoye, Ambassador to the AU at Addis Ababa, he is awaiting his agreement to proceed to Addis Ababa,” he explained.
According to him, the second category is the career ambassadors who have all been deployed in their respective countries of accreditation.
“However they cannot proceed until we received agreements for all of them, they are about 44 in this category,” Enikanolaiye clarified, noting that the agreements are trickling in.
The permanent secretary explained that the non-career ambassadors had yet to be deployed because they have not been assigned to countries.
“That work is in progress, it is almost completed as soon as that is completed the countries to which they have been deployed will be the first to know.
“And once the agreement is received for each of them, we will make the announcement but we will not make an announcement until the countries have given consent, which is agreement,” he stated, noting that this would be completed in a few weeks.
He said that the ministry was taking necessary steps to fast-track the process to ensure the deployment of the envoys without further delay