Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has been reassigned as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to South Africa, following an earlier diplomatic posting to Germany that stirred controversy and speculation.
Fani-Kayode disclosed the development on Thursday, stating that President Bola Tinubu had approved his redeployment after he formally requested a change of posting due to personal preferences.
According to him, he was initially uncomfortable with being assigned to Germany and opted instead for South Africa, citing both personal and strategic reasons.
“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 which is a country that I had never been to and for which I have so much interest,” Fani-Kayode said.
Explaining further, he added, “I also expressed the fact that I would rather serve in a country that shares some of my convictions, beilefs and values when it comes to world affairs, that has the biggest economy in Africa, that has closer ties to Nigeria and that is more proximate to my political thinking when it comes to foreign affairs and a pan African vision.
“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 (H.E. Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar) heard my reasons he considered them favourably after which he conveyed the request to Mr. President who graciously approved it.
“I will be eternally grateful to Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this favourable consideration.”
Following the adjustment, Senator Ita Enang, who was earlier designated for South Africa, has now been reassigned as Germany’s ambassador-designate.
Fani-Kayode’s initial nomination was part of a broader diplomatic reshuffle approved by President Tinubu in March 2026, which affected over 60 ambassadorial postings.
However, reports later emerged claiming Germany had rejected his appointment over alleged concerns about past controversial statements and conduct. The claims sparked widespread debate across political and diplomatic circles.
The former minister has strongly denied the reports, describing them as fabricated and malicious.
“I take this opportunity to once again confirm that this was my choice and that Germany NEVER formally rejected me, which was a fake report that was published in an irresponsible online magazine that thrives on sensationslism, lies and blackmail,” he said.
He further dismissed the allegations as baseless:
“Their story was not only irresponsible and insulting but was also a total and complete fabrication based on hearsay, beer parlour talk and cheap gossip and designed to embarass my goodself, the Federal Government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Worse still they listed a number of clearly outlandish and absurd reasons for this purported and fake ‘rejection’ which they patched together and concocted reflecting the malevolent condition of their perverse imagination.”
Fani-Kayode also alleged that the report surfaced alongside leaked diplomatic documents and vowed legal action against the publication, instructing his lawyers to pursue a defamation suit.
