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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Federal Government has denied extending the stay of recalled ambassadors across the world.
President Bola Tinubu had on September 2 recalled all Nigeria’s ambassadors, both career and non-career.
The ambassadors, who were recalled via a statement issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, were asked to return to the country on or before October 31, 2023.
However, a media report on Tuesday claimed that the FG had extended the stay of the ambassadors by three months.
Reacting to the report, the Special Adviser on Media to Foreign Affairs Minister, Alkasim Abdulkadir, told The PUNCH on Wednesday that the recall by President Tinubu still stands, adding that all envoys are expected to return by October 31.
“Some of the envoys have either signalled their host governments of leaving or have left and returned to the country already.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recall still stands and all envoys are expected to be back in Nigeria by October 31 as earlier communicated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, acting on the directive of the President.
“This is a routine matter to recalibrate Nigeria’s foreign policy and international relations in line with the 4Ds (Democracy, Development, Demography and Diaspora) foreign policy strategy under the renewed Hope agenda of the President,” he said.