FG appoints 44 ambassadors

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olusola Enikanolaiye has announced the deployment of 44 ambassadors by the federal government on Monday, June 5, 2017.

The ambassadors have been deployed to their countries of accreditation but are yet to commence their duties pending the signing of a memorandum on their appointments.

Announcing the appointments in Abuja, Enikanolaiye 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 organisations 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 has submitted his letter of credence and assumed duty.

"The third one is Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, ambassador to the AU at Addis Ababa, he is awaiting his agreement to proceed to Addis Ababa."

Speaking about the delay in the signing of the memorandum, he said, "However, they cannot proceed until we receive agreements for all of them; they are about 44 in this category."

He promised that the memorandum will be duly signed so as to get the ambassadors to their respective countries as soon as possible.

"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 agreement is received for each of them, we will make announcement but we will not make announcement until the countries have given consent, which is agreement".