President Tinubu Recalls All Nigerian Ambassadors

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the recall of all Nigerian ambassadors and their return to the nation.

Ambassadors who have been recalled include both career and non-career diplomats.

Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, made the announcement on Saturday in a statement issued by his Special Assistant, Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir.

However, the statement did not explain why the development occurred.

The message instead stated that the President had the authority to assign or recall ambassadors.

“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,” the statement said.

A recall letter addressed to the now recalled ambassador to the United Kingdom (UK), Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Ishola, was dated August 31, 2023, and signed by the Foreign Affairs minister, Tuggar.

The ambassador was directed to return to Nigeria latest by October 31, 2023.

It was gathered that similar letters were forwarded to all the country’s ambassadors.

The letter addressed to the Nigerian Ambassador to the UK  titled ‘Letter of Recall’.

A stamp on the letter indicated that it was dispatched on September 1.

Parts of the letter read, “I have the honour to notify you of Mr President’s decision to recall you, signalling the end of your tenure as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the United Kingdom.

“By this communication, you are now expected to commence the process of winding down your affairs, and take formal leave of your host government within sixty days and return to Nigeria by 31 October, 2023 at the latest.”

The letter also conveyed the President’s appreciation for the service rendered by the ambassador, while also wishing him God’s continued guidance in future endeavours.