* UN Permanent Reps in New York and Geneva exempted
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has recalled Nigeria’s Ambassadors, both career and non-career, home.
The order was conveyed through a statement issued by the Special Adviser, Media and Communication Strategy to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alkasim Abdulkadir, on Saturday.
The statement explained that “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.”
According to the statement, ambassadors were expected to begin winding down their activities in their respective countries of deployment, and take formal leave of the host government within 60 days and to return to Nigeria by October 31, 2023, at the latest.
The minister, while thanking them for the service they rendered, said he looked forward to welcoming them to Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Presidency on Saturday explained that all the country’s United Nations Permanent Representatives in New York and Geneva were exempted from the recall.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said the exemption was as a result of the upcoming UN General Assembly holding later this month.
The statement added, “To this end, the President further directs that Nigeria’s United Nations Permanent Representatives in New York and Geneva be exempted from this total recall, in view of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, holding later this month. By the directive of the President, the recall of the affected officers takes immediate effect.”
