FG Insists on October 31 Recall Date for Envoys

The Federal Government has denied extending the stay of recalled ambassadors across the world.

On September 2, President Bola Tinubu recalled all Nigeria’s ambassadors, both career and non-career.

They were asked to return to the country on or before October 31, 2023.

Nigeria has no fewer than 300 foreign missions.

The recall was communicated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.

However,  a media report on Tuesday claimed that the FG has extended the stay of the envoys and ambassadors by three months.

Responding to the report, the Special Adviser to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Alkasim Abdulkadir, told our correspondent on Wednesday that the recall by President Tinubu still stands, adding that all envoys are expected to return by October 31.
Abdulkadir said “Some of the envoys have either signalled their host governments of leaving or have left and returned to the country already.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recall still stands and all envoys are expected to be back in Nigeria by  October 31as earlier communicated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, acting on the directive of the President.

“This is a routine matter to recalibrate Nigeria’s foreign policy and international relations in line with the 4Ds (Democracy, Development, Demography and Diaspora) foreign policy strategy under the renewed Hope agenda of the President.”