Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has approved his new appointment as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to South Africa.
Disclosing this on Thursday via his X handle, Fani-Kayode explained that his previous assignment to Germany was reconsidered at his own request.
He revealed that he had officially approached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express his preference for South Africa over Germany.
This request was vetted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, before receiving final presidential approval.
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Fani-Kayode stated, “It gives me pleasure to announce the fact that Mr. President has graciously approved my posting as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to South Africa.”
Explaining the shift, he said, “This came a few days after the initial posting to Germany was announced and after I made a formal representation to the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, that I was not comfortable with Germany for a number of personal reasons and given the fact that I had lived in Europe most of my life I would prefer to go to South Africa which is a country that I had never been to and for which I have so much interest.”
He further noted, “I also expressed the fact that I would rather serve in a country that shares some of my convictions, beliefs, and values when it comes to world affairs, that has the biggest economy in Africa, that has closer ties to Nigeria, and that is more proximate to my political thinking when it comes to foreign affairs and a pan-African vision.”
The transition was made possible through a swap with Senator Sam Enang, who will now serve in Germany instead of South Africa.
Fani-Kayode strongly denied rumors that the German government had rejected his original nomination, calling such reports “a total fabrication” and “complete fabrication based on hearsay, beer parlour talk and cheap gossip.”
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He clarified, “Germany NEVER formally rejected me. That story was not only irresponsible and insulting but was also a complete fabrication based on hearsay, beer parlour talk and cheap gossip.”
The former minister has since directed his legal team to sue the publication behind the claims and has alerted security agencies.
While thanking President Tinubu and Ambassador Tuggar for the redeployment, he urged the media to prioritize fact-checking, reiterating that no official rejection from Germany ever took place.
