Former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode has confirmed his redeployment as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to South Africa, saying the change was approved by President Bola Tinubu after a personal request.
Mr Fani-Kayode disclosed this in a statement posted on his X account on Thursday.
According to him, he was initially posted to Germany but later requested redeployment to South Africa for personal reasons and because he preferred serving in an African country.
“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,” he said.
Fani-Kayode said he also preferred South Africa because of its relationship with Nigeria and his views on foreign affairs and Pan-Africanism.
“I 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,” he stated.
He said former Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar considered the request and forwarded it to President Tinubu, who approved the redeployment.
Fani-Kayode also denied reports claiming Germany rejected him as Nigeria’s envoy.
“The story was not only irresponsible and insulting but was also a total and complete fabrication,” he said.
He added that he had instructed his lawyers to begin legal action against those behind the reports, including a defamation suit.
The former minister said no formal rejection was issued by Germany and claimed the reports emerged after diplomatic communication relating to his redeployment was leaked.
He also thanked Sam Enang, who was initially posted to South Africa, for agreeing to swap postings with him.
Fani-Kayode’s redeployment comes amid renewed concerns over attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa.
Recently, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu held talks with South African authorities following reports of attacks and harassment involving Nigerians in the country.
“I maintained that our Government cannot stand by and watch the systematic harassment and humiliation of our nationals resident in SA,” Minister Odumegwu-Ojukwu said after a phone conversation with South Africa’s foreign minister Ronald Lamola.
Videos circulating online in recent weeks have shown protests and anti-immigrant demonstrations targeting foreign nationals, including Nigerians, in parts of South Africa.
Fani-Kayode served as minister under former President Olusegun Obasanjo and previously held positions in government communications and public affairs.
