The ministry of foreign affairs says 65 of the 69 Nigerian ambassadors appointed by President Bola Tinubu have been accepted by their host countries.
In a statement on Saturday, Kimiebi Ebienfa, ministry spokesperson, said the 65 accepted ambassadors represented a 97 percent acceptance rate.
Ebienfa attributed the two outstanding appointments to Grace Bent, ambassador-designate nominee for Togo declining the offer, and Mohammed Mahmud Lele, ambassador-designate for Algeria dying in April.
Lele died on April 19 in Ankara, Turkey, after a protracted illness. Ebienfa said the replacement process is ongoing.
Though the spokesperson did not disclose the other two countries where the appointments remain pending, it was understood they are Japan and Mexico.
Reno Omokri, a former presidential spokesperson, was posted to Mexico, while Olumilua Oluwayimika Ayotunwa was dispatched to Japan.
Ebienfa said “assurances have been received from the two friendly countries that their consent would be given in due course,” adding that the diplomatic process is progressing “smoothly and successfully”.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to assure Nigerians and the international stakeholders that it is actively engaging the relevant authorities in the two countries and is confident that the outstanding Agreements will be conveyed in due course,” the statement reads.
The spokesperson added that the majority of ambassadors have since arrived in their host countries and presented their letters of credence to commence their representational duties as Nigeria’s principal envoys.