Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has confirmed that he has been redeployed as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to South Africa after initially being assigned to Germany.
In a statement released on Thursday, Fani-Kayode said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved his redeployment following a formal request he made to the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar.
According to him, he requested a transfer from Germany to South Africa due to personal reasons and his preference to serve in a country he had never visited before.
Fani-Kayode explained that he preferred South Africa because of its economic status, stronger ties with Nigeria, and what he described as a shared Pan-African outlook and similar foreign policy convictions.
He disclosed that after Tuggar considered his request favourably, it was forwarded to President Tinubu, who subsequently approved the redeployment.
The former minister also appreciated former presidential aide, Ita Enang, who was initially posted to South Africa but agreed to switch postings and proceed to Germany instead.
Fani-Kayode further dismissed reports claiming that Germany rejected his appointment, describing the reports as “false, malicious and fabricated.”
He accused an unnamed online publication of spreading misinformation aimed at embarrassing him and the Federal Government, insisting that Germany never formally rejected his nomination.
According to him, the reports emerged after diplomatic communication seeking South Africa’s agreement to his posting was leaked on March 13.
He said legal and security steps had already been initiated against those behind the publication, adding that his lawyers had been instructed to file a civil suit for defamation.
Fani-Kayode maintained that there was no documentary evidence of any rejection by Germany and challenged those behind the reports to produce proof.
He added that he looks forward to serving Nigeria in South Africa, which he described as a nation with a remarkable and inspiring history.
