3rd September, 2023
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the recall of all Nigeria’s ambassadors, career and non-career alike.
Foreign affairs minister Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar made this known following enquiries as news broke that Nigeria’s High Commissioner to United Kingdom, Sarafa Isola has been asked to return home by 31 October.
Tuggar clarified that the recall of all the envoys is total.
The minister’s media aide, AlKasim Abdulkadir said:
“Sequel to the inquiries on the letter recalling the Nigerian ambassador to the UK, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has clarified that all career ambassadors and non-career ambassadors have been recalled on the instructions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Ambassadors as representatives of the country serve at the behest of the President and it’s his prerogative to send or recall them from any country.”
In a statement on Saturday, Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser on media to President Tinubu said the mass recall will take immediate effect, except for ambassadors at the United Nations and Geneva.
They were exempted in view of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, holding later this month.
“The President’s directive is sequel to his careful study of the present state of affairs at Nigerian Consulate Offices and Embassies worldwide.
“And in line with the President’s renewed hope agenda, the President is determined to ensure that world-class efficiency and quality, will henceforth, characterize foreign and domestic service delivery to citizens, residents and prospective visitors alike”, Ajuri stated.
The ambassadors were appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021.
* Updated at 3.53 am on Sunday 3 September