Federal Government on Sunday disowned a list of Nigeria’s ambassadorial nominees currently circulating on some social media platforms.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has therefore urged the public to disregard such a fake list.
Currently, Nigeria runs 109 missions, 76 embassies, 22 high commissions and 11 consulates across the world.
The Ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, in a statement on Sunday, clarified that no such appointments had been made, stressing that the appointment of ambassadors is solely the prerogative of the President.
The statement read, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the general public to kindly disregard the fake list of ambassadorial nominees, which is currently in circulation on some social media platforms.
“The ministry wishes to state unequivocally that the appointment of ambassadors is the prerogative of Mr. President and no such appointments have been made in that regard.
“The purported list should, therefore, be discountenanced.”
Recall that in September 2023, President Bola Tinubu recalled all career and non-career ambassadors in Nigeria’s diplomatic missions, embassies and consulates all over the world.
A statement by Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry confirming the development read, “Sequel to the inquiries on the letter recalling the Nigerian ambassador to the UK, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has clarified that all career ambassadors and non-career ambassadors have been recalled on the instructions of President Bola Tinubu.”
The envoys, including the 41 non-career ambassadors and 42 career ambassadors appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2020, were directed to return to Nigeria on or before October 31.
But over one year after, President Tinubu has yet to appoint and deploy new ambassadors to Nigeria’s foreign missions.
