KEY POINTS
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismisses the circulating ambassadorial list.
- Appointment of ambassadors is solely the prerogative of President Tinubu.
- Public urged to disregard fake lists and await an official announcement.
The Federal Government has dismissed a viral list of ambassadorial nominees circulating on social media, calling it “fake and baseless.” In a statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, urged Nigerians to disregard the list, stressing that no such appointments have been made.
The statement emphasized that the appointment of ambassadors remains the exclusive prerogative of President Bola Tinubu, and no official announcements regarding new ambassadors have been made.
“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 statement read.
It continued, “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.”
The announcement was prompted by growing concerns after a list of supposed ambassadorial nominees began circulating online, causing confusion and speculation among the public.
Ministry clears the air on ambassadorial appointments
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also used the opportunity to remind the public about Nigeria’s diplomatic reach. Nigeria operates 109 missions worldwide, including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates.
The issue of ambassadorial appointments has been a point of interest since President Bola Tinubu recalled all career and non-career ambassadors on September 2, 2023. This recall affected ambassadors operating Nigeria’s diplomatic missions, embassies, and consulates globally.
A statement from the ministry at the time 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.”
According to Punch, the recall affected 41 non-career ambassadors and 42 career ambassadors who were appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2020. All ambassadors were directed to return to Nigeria by October 31, 2023.
Public urged to disregard unofficial lists
With no new appointments made over a year later, the absence of ambassadors in several diplomatic missions has been a growing concern for many Nigerians. This vacuum has fueled speculation and the spread of unverified lists of new ambassadors.
The Ministry’s latest statement seeks to restore order and curb the spread of misinformation. Moreover, by clarifying that only the president has the authority to appoint ambassadors, the ministry aims to reassure the public that no official ambassadorial list has been released.
The statement further reinforced that, until the president makes an official announcement, all lists circulating online should be treated as false. This clarification is particularly timely as the Nigerian government works to strengthen its diplomatic presence on the global stage.
