President Bola Tinubu has recalled all Nigeria’s ambassadors of both career and non-career status back home.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar stated this on Saturday in a statement issued by his assistant on Media, Alkasim Abdulkadir.
The recall of Nigeria’s envoy to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Ishola had earlier been widely reported on Friday.
A recall letter by Ambassador Tuggar urged Ishola “to commence the process of winding down your affairs, and take formal leave of your host government within 60 days and to return to Nigeria by 31 October 2023 at the latest.”
The clarification on Saturday by Abdulkadir indicated that it was not only Ambassador Sarafa Ishola that has been recalled.
The two-paragraph statement confirming the recall of all ambassadors reads:
“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 is his prerogative to send or recall them from any country.”