The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Nigerian ambassador-designates would be posted to the country’s
various missions abroad by July.
various missions abroad by July.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Sola Enikanolaiye, told the
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in New York that the ministry
had started receiving “agreemo”.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in New York that the ministry
had started receiving “agreemo”.
‘Agreemo’ is a memorandum from one country to another agreeing to the appointment of an ambassador or envoy.
“There are three groups of ambassadors. The first group, to which
professor (Tijjani) Bande belongs, has been announced and professor
Bande has resumed here in New York.
professor (Tijjani) Bande belongs, has been announced and professor
Bande has resumed here in New York.
“Ambassador Audu Kadiri in Geneva has also resumed. We expect that
Ambassador Bankole Adeoye going to Addis Ababa should resume in the next
couple of days. That’s the very first group.
Ambassador Bankole Adeoye going to Addis Ababa should resume in the next
couple of days. That’s the very first group.
“The second group of ambassadors, which was drawn largely from the career category, has also been deployed.
“We’ve started to receive ‘agreemo’, which consent of the receiving
states from some of them. And we expect that in the next couple of
weeks, they should also assume duties.
states from some of them. And we expect that in the next couple of
weeks, they should also assume duties.
“What we’re waiting for is the deployment of the non-career; that has
not been concluded; it’s ongoing. We expect that should be completed
also in the next couple of weeks.
not been concluded; it’s ongoing. We expect that should be completed
also in the next couple of weeks.
“So that, minus or plus, in the next two months, most of our
ambassadors should have assumed (duty) in their various posts abroad.”
ambassadors should have assumed (duty) in their various posts abroad.”
The permanent secretary said the financial situation of the missions
had been resolved, adding that more funds from the government was being
disbursed.
had been resolved, adding that more funds from the government was being
disbursed.
“The state of the Nigerian missions abroad has been a major concern to government, particularly in the area of funding.
“But I can announce that the situation is poised to improve because
additional funding has been provided by government and are currently
being disbursed.
additional funding has been provided by government and are currently
being disbursed.
“We believe that upon receipt of those funds, they would be able to at least come out of the woods.
“But we need to look into a more sustainable manner of funding
Nigerian missions so that they would not go back into the era of huge
indebtedness from which they are now trying to come out at this.
Nigerian missions so that they would not go back into the era of huge
indebtedness from which they are now trying to come out at this.
Recall that the Federal Government recalled all the ambassadors
appointed by the previous administration in 2015 and now the country’s
foreign missions are run by Chargé d’Affaires or Counsel-Generals.
appointed by the previous administration in 2015 and now the country’s
foreign missions are run by Chargé d’Affaires or Counsel-Generals.
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