All Nigerian ambassadors, career and non-career alike, have been called back by Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to information obtained, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, acknowledged the recall.
Tuggar stated that the President had the authority to send or recall ambassadors from any country and that the recall had been ordered by the President.
The recall follows Tinubu’s recall of Sarafa Ishola, the nation’s ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Ishola’s recall was announced in a letter from Tuggar, who stated that the President had made the decision to recall him, marking the end of his employment as the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
The letter said that Ishola was expected to commence the process of winding down his affairs and take formal leave of his host government within 60 days. He was also asked to return to Nigeria by October 31, 2023 at the latest.
The reasons for the recall of all Nigerian ambassadors have not been made public. However, it is possible that the President is seeking to reshuffle his diplomatic team or that he is unhappy with the performance of some of his ambassadors.
The statement confirming the recall of all ambassadors read: “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.”