Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has announced that President Bola Tinubu approved his redeployment from Germany to South Africa as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate.
Fani-Kayode disclosed this in a post shared on his X account on Thursday, explaining that he had requested a change in posting shortly after he was initially assigned to Germany.
According to him, he formally wrote to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, expressing discomfort with the Germany posting and requesting instead to serve in South Africa.
He stated that the minister considered the request and forwarded it to President Tinubu, who later approved the redeployment.
“It gives me pleasure to announce the fact that Mr. President has graciously approved my posting as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to South Africa,” he said.
Fani-Kayode explained that he preferred South Africa because he had spent most of his life in Europe and wanted to serve in a country he had never visited but had strong interest in.
He also said South Africa aligns more closely with his political and foreign policy views, particularly on pan-Africanism and continental cooperation.
The former minister added that the redeployment involved a swap arrangement with Senator Sam Enang, who had initially been posted to South Africa but later opted for Germany.
Fani-Kayode dismissed reports claiming that Germany rejected his appointment, describing the reports as false, malicious and intended to embarrass both him and the Federal Government.
He insisted that no official rejection was communicated by the German government and said he had instructed his lawyers to take legal action against the publication responsible for the report.
He also disclosed that the matter had been reported to relevant security agencies, while urging media organisations to verify information before publication.
The former minister thanked President Tinubu and the foreign affairs minister for approving his request, adding that he looks forward to serving Nigeria in South Africa.
