FG disowns purported list of ambassadorial nominees in circulation

The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reacted to the list of ambassadorial nominees circulating on social media, describing it as fake.

The ministry has, therefore, urged the public to disregard it, emphasizing that the appointment of ambassadors is the exclusive responsibility of the president and no such appointments have been made.

The ministry made the announcement through a press release issued on Sunday, bearing the signature of its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa.

“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,” it said.

Persecondnews recalls that President Bola Tinubu on September 2, 2023, issued a directive recalling all of Nigeria’s career and non-career ambassadors from their diplomatic posts worldwide, including those operating embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic missions.

Nigeria maintains a significant diplomatic presence worldwide, comprising 109 missions, including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates across the globe.

The recalled envoys were given a deadline of October 31 to return to Nigeria.

The group comprises 41 non-career ambassadors and 42 career ambassadors, all of whom were appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2020.

More than a year later, the country is still awaiting the appointment and deployment of new ambassadors to represent Nigeria’s interests abroad.

The delay in appointing has left Nigeria in a tricky situation, relying on consuls-general and chargés d’affaires to represent the country, despite their limited authority to engage in high-level diplomatic meetings.

In April 2024, the Nigerian government deployed 12 consuls-general and five chargés d’affaires to represent Nigeria in 14 countries.

Names of Chargé D’affaires and missions posted include Amb. Saidu Dodo (Damascus, Syria); Amb. Patrick Imoudu Imologhome (Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea); Amb. Francisca Omayuli (Singapore, Singapore); Amb. Babagana Ahmadu (Bangui, Central African Republic); and Amb. Mohammed Mohammed (Tripoli, Libya).

Also, the newly appointed Consul General and their consulates included Amb. Auwalu Namadina (Atlanta, USA); Amb. Nnamdi Nze (Bata, Equatorial Guinea); Amb. Francis Enya (Douala, Cameroon); Amb. Gbadebo Afolabi (Shanghai, China); Amb. Oludare Folowosele (Hong Kong, China); Amb. Abubakar Jidda (New York, USA); and Amb. Yakubu Dadu (Frankfurt, Germany).

Others are Amb. Taofik Coker (Buea, Cameroon); Amb. George Onwuekwe (Guangzhou, China); Amb. Umar Bashir (Johannesburg, South Africa); Amb. Zayyan Ibrahim (Dubai, UAE); and Amb. Muazam Nayaya (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia).