Amid widespread rumors surrounding potential ambassadorial nominations, the Nigerian Presidency has officially addressed the situation, refuting recent reports that suggested certain public figures had already been selected for diplomatic positions.
The speculation followed claims that the Federal Government had initiated the process of screening individuals to fill open positions across 76 embassies and 22 high commissions. Names reportedly involved in the supposed screening process included former Enugu and Abia governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu, ex-lawmaker Shehu Sani, former presidential aide Reno Omokri, Lagos State’s former Deputy Governor Femi Pedro, and past Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode.
In response to these reports, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to President Bola Tinubu, appeared on Control TV to dismiss the claims, labeling them as baseless and lacking official backing.
When asked about remarks by Senator Ali Ndume, who accused the government of favoritism in appointments, Bwala responded bluntly:
“What he reeled out are falsehood and disinformation.”
He added, “If you are going to come out and criticize government on things that can be backed up by data and stats, then it’s good you bring out the data and stats.”
Bwala emphasized that the senator’s criticism should have been rooted in verified information rather than online chatter.
“This is why, like I said, that he as a ranking senator and I think someone who has been in the national assembly for so long, you would expect a degree of maturity and but also more than that you will express a degree of integrity, right, in the way you communicate because you sway opinion and you lead people. There are people that will look up to you and think what you’re saying is correct.”
He questioned the credibility of the sources fueling the reports, saying,
“How can someone be banking on information that is circulating in the social media? And such information has not been made available in any of the platforms available of government.”
Bwala made it clear that official communication from the Presidency does not come through rumors or third-party sources.
“Like I said yesterday, when we tried to debunk the assertion that the president has sacked the INEC chairman, I said, no, the president has his own way of communicating, we have official channels and not rumour mill.”
On the purported list of nominees, Bwala outright dismissed its authenticity:
“That list or that conversation around names and the rest is nowhere, has not emanated from government.”
“It’s part of those for those, for some of us who know a thing about narrative or media, sometimes people plant stories to sway people. And sometimes, the plan is for the purpose of misinforming the people. That list is not known to government, and I’m not going to speak to it. I’d not like to promote anybody in the list or to demote anybody in the list.”
When pressed on whether ambassadorial appointments are forthcoming, Bwala acknowledged that several diplomatic posts remain unfilled but provided no details about possible candidates or timelines.
“I know that we have foreign missions and embassies that have not been filled since the last time some of the ambassadors were recalled.”
“So one will assume that at some point the president will appoint an ambassador. As to when and who is in the list unknown is a fact that I don’t have any knowledge of.”
It’s worth recalling that in September 2023, President Bola Tinubu ordered the recall of all ambassadors, both career and non-career. In March 2025, a presidential statement noted that replacements would be announced “very soon.”
