The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says four postings remain pending, including Reno Omokri’s, seven months after his nomination to Mexico
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says 65 of the 69 ambassadors appointed by President Bola Tinubu have been accepted by their host countries, representing a 97 per cent acceptance rate.
In a statement issued on Saturday, ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa said the figure reflects agréments received from the countries the ambassadors were assigned to, the formal consent a host country must give before a diplomat can assume duty.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the public and the international community that ninety-seven percent (97%) of the Ambassadors appointed by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, have successfully received the agrément of their respective host countries,” the statement read.
Why four ambassadorial postings remain unresolved
Ebienfa attributed two of the four outstanding appointments to specific circumstances: Grace Bent, ambassador-designate nominee for Togo, declined the offer, while Mohammed Mahmud Lele, ambassador-designate for Algeria, died on 19 April in Ankara, Turkey, after a protracted illness. Ebienfa said the replacement process for Lele’s posting is ongoing.
Though the spokesperson did not disclose the other two countries where appointments remain pending, TheCable reported they are Japan and Mexico.
Reno Omokri, a former presidential spokesperson, was posted to Mexico City, while Olumilua Oluwayimika Ayotunwa was posted to Tokyo. Both were part of the original list of 65 ambassadors, comprising 31 career diplomats and 34 non-career appointees, that Tinubu approved in March, alongside high-profile names such as Femi Fani-Kayode (Germany) and former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu (Qatar).
Omokri’s posting has remained unresolved for months. As early as April, Leadership reported that only 10 countries, including the UK, France, the US and Qatar, had granted approval, with Germany and Mexico among those still pending.
By June, the ministry said 63 of 69 agréments had been received, with Omokri’s status still described as “unknown” alongside Fani-Kayode’s, though Fani-Kayode has since been cleared and resumed duties.
Ministry says diplomatic process progressing smoothly
Ebienfa said assurances have been received from the two friendly countries involved that their consent would be given in due course, describing the diplomatic process as 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 read.
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.
The postings were intended to fill missions that had gone without substantive ambassadors since Nigeria recalled its envoys from foreign posts in 2023, following the Senate’s confirmation of the nominees in December 2025.
