President Bola Tinubu has ordered the recall of all career and non-career ambassadors serving abroad.
Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, announced the decision barely 24 hours after the president recalled Sarafa Isola, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK).
In a statement on Saturday by Alkasim Abdulkadir, Tuggar’s adviser on media and communications strategy, the minister said the recall of Isola on Friday was applicable to all ambassadors.
In a letter dated August 31, the minister said Tinubu had recalled Isola and asked him to return to Nigeria by October 31 at the latest, after taking formal leave from his host government.
On Tinubu’s behalf, Tuggar thanked the outgoing High Commissioner for his service and wished him well in his future endeavours.
“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,” the statement reads.
“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.”
There was no mention of when their would-be successors would assume office.
Permanent representatives to UN exempted
However, the Nigerian presidency exempted the country’s permanent representatives to the United Nations in New York and Geneva from being recalled.
In a statement on Saturday, Ajuri Ngelale, the presidential spokesperson, said the exemption of the representatives is due to the forthcoming UN general assembly.
Ngelale said the recall of the ambassadors takes immediate effect.
“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 statement reads.
“The president is determined to ensure that world-class efficiency and quality, will henceforth, characterise foreign and domestic service delivery to citizens, residents and prospective visitors alike.”
