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.

The post Fani-Kayode Confirmed as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to South Africa appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

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.

The post Fani-Kayode Confirmed as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to South Africa appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the posting of four ambassador-designates to key diplomatic missions in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Turkey, marking the first batch of foreign postings following Senate confirmation of nominees last year.

A statement issued on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the development.

According to the statement, Ambassador Ayodele Oke has been cleared as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to France, while Colonel Lateef Are has been approved for posting to the United States of America.

Also approved is Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu, a former Nigerian envoy to South Korea, who has been designated as the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

In addition, former Kebbi State governor, Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman, has been named ambassador-designate to Turkey, where President Tinubu is expected to embark on a state visit next week.

The President has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately notify the host countries of the approved postings in line with established diplomatic protocols.

Recall that President Tinubu transmitted an initial list of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate in November 2025, following nearly two years of vacancies across Nigeria’s foreign missions. A supplementary list of 32 nominees was later forwarded.

In December, the Senate confirmed 64 nominees, bringing the total number of confirmed ambassador-designates to 67.

Apart from the four recently approved postings, other confirmed nominees include former presidential aide Reno Omokri, ex-INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, and former Oyo State First Lady, Fatima Florence Ajimobi, among others.

The gradual deployment of the ambassadors is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic presence and international engagements under the Tinubu administration.

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Gumi Urges Nigeria to Cut Ties with US Over Trump’s Military Threa

Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has called on President Bola Tinubu to take firm diplomatic action against former United States President Donald Trump following his alleged threat of military intervention in Nigeria.

In a statement shared via his verified Facebook page on Sunday, Gumi condemned Trump’s remarks as an affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty, urging the federal government to issue a strong response.

“For Trump to threaten a sovereign country with military attack is a profound disrespect to our authority, but we can rise above it,” he wrote.

The cleric advised the Tinubu administration to summon the U.S. ambassador to demand an official retraction, warning that failure to do so should result in cutting diplomatic ties with Washington.

“President Tinubu should summon the U.S. ambassador; they either retract their threats or we sever diplomatic ties with this irresponsible regime,” Gumi stated.

He further stressed the need for Nigeria to explore alternative economic and military partnerships, saying the country should not rely solely on the United States for strategic cooperation.

“There are lots of other options for our economic expansion and military alliance,” he added.

Gumi’s comments come amid growing diplomatic tension following Trump’s alleged comments on Nigeria’s internal affairs, which many political observers have described as inflammatory and undiplomatic.

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