Nigeria’s Federal Government has officially prohibited the unauthorized use of the title “Ambassador,” clarifying that this designation is exclusively reserved for individuals who have been formally appointed and accredited by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The announcement was made by Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday. Ebienfa expressed growing concerns regarding individuals misrepresenting themselves as ambassadors without official authorization, a trend that has caused confusion among foreign diplomatic missions.
According to Ebienfa, the Ministry has received numerous inquiries from international diplomatic missions seeking to verify the credentials of Nigerians claiming ambassadorial status. He noted that these misrepresentations are straining official communication channels and undermining established diplomatic protocols. The spokesperson attributed the issue to organizations unlawfully conferring ambassadorial titles, often for promotional or fraudulent purposes. While some groups legitimately appoint brand ambassadors for marketing purposes, Ebienfa emphasized that many recipients incorrectly present these roles as formal diplomatic appointments, leading to widespread misunderstanding.
Ebienfa also warned of schemes where individuals are lured into paying substantial sums—sometimes millions of naira—for so-called ambassadorial appointments. These packages allegedly include fake appointment letters, diplomatic passports, vehicle number plates, and identity cards falsely linked to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He described such practices as fraudulent and misleading. The Ministry stressed that impersonating an ambassador constitutes a criminal offense and vowed to prosecute offenders under relevant laws.
Furthermore, Ebienfa reiterated that only the President, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, holds the constitutional prerogative to appoint and accredit ambassadors. This government initiative aims to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s diplomatic corps and prevent further exploitation of citizens through deceptive schemes.
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