Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has confirmed his redeployment as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to South Africa.
Fani-Kayode disclosed this in a statement posted on his official X account, explaining that President Bola Tinubu approved his redeployment from Germany to South Africa following a personal request.
His reassignment comes amid renewed xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa, which have sparked diplomatic concerns and reactions from Nigerian authorities.
According to Fani-Kayode, he requested the redeployment shortly after his initial posting to Germany was announced, citing personal reasons and his preference to serve in South Africa.
“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 stated.
He explained that his interest in South Africa was influenced by what he described as shared political values, stronger African ties, and the country’s strategic importance on the continent.
“I therefore made an application for a redeployment to South Africa two days after the initial announcement was made, and I am pleased to say that after the then Foreign Minister heard my reasons, he considered them favourably after which he conveyed the request to Mr. President, who graciously approved it,” he added.
Fani-Kayode also dismissed reports claiming that Germany rejected him as Nigeria’s envoy, describing the reports as false and defamatory.
He revealed that he had instructed his lawyers to begin legal action against those responsible for circulating the claims.
The confirmation comes at a sensitive time in Nigeria-South Africa relations following recent attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had recently held discussions with South African authorities over the safety of Nigerians and possible evacuation measures for citizens willing to return home.
“I maintained that our Government cannot stand by and watch the systematic harassment and humiliation of our nationals resident in South Africa as well as the extra-judicial killings of our people,” the minister had stated after the diplomatic engagement.
Despite addressing the controversy surrounding his redeployment, Fani-Kayode did not directly outline specific diplomatic strategies he intends to pursue regarding the xenophobic attacks.
Fani-Kayode previously served as Special Assistant on Public Affairs to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and later became Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the presidency.
He also served as Minister of Culture and Tourism before his appointment as Minister of Aviation in 2006.
His new diplomatic role places him at the centre of one of Nigeria’s most important and sensitive foreign relationships in Africa.
