Abuja, Nigeria — Former Minister of Aviation in Nigeria, Femi Fani-Kayode, has denied reports suggesting that the government of Germany rejected his nomination as Nigeria’s ambassador.
Okay News reports that an online publication, Peoples Gazette, claimed on Monday, March 30, 2026, that German authorities declined to accept Fani-Kayode over alleged ethnic and religious remarks attributed to him in the past.
The report followed an earlier decision by Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, who had approved the former minister’s appointment as ambassador-designate to a Central European country. According to the online outlet, German officials reportedly rejected the nomination on Thursday, March 13, 2026, citing concerns about his “erratic behaviour” and what it described as controversial statements that were allegedly divisive.
The report further suggested that Nigerian authorities might consider redeploying him to South Africa as an alternative diplomatic posting.
Responding on his official account on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Fani-Kayode dismissed the claims as inaccurate. He accused opposition politicians of spreading misinformation in an attempt to undermine his nomination.
“Fake news everywhere. These opposition elements are so pained by my appointment, and they are doing everything to discredit me and scuttle it. Whether they like it or not, I will serve my country! Keep crying!” he wrote.
The former minister maintained that he remains committed to serving Nigeria and insisted that efforts to derail his appointment would not succeed. His response comes amid ongoing public discussion over diplomatic appointments and the process of host countries accepting ambassadorial nominees.
Diplomatic postings typically require approval from receiving countries before nominees can assume office. While neither the Nigerian government nor German authorities have publicly confirmed the claims, the controversy has drawn attention to the sensitivities surrounding international diplomatic appointments and political reactions at home.
