Abuja, Nigeria: The Federal Government of Nigeria issued a warning on Saturday, May 2, 2026, advising the public to ignore fraudulent online messages claiming to offer employment in the country’s diplomatic service.
Okay News reports that Kimiebi Ebienfa, Spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, released a press statement detailing how the false communication directs applicants to pay for a “credence note” after claiming they were shortlisted for appointments in the Consular Section of Nigerian embassies abroad.
The ministry clarified that Nigerian missions are not currently recruiting and that official hiring into the Nigerian Foreign Service is conducted exclusively through the Federal Civil Service Commission. Ebienfa said, “The ministry wishes to state unequivocally that the communication is fake and misleading and the handiwork of unscrupulous elements seeking to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.”
The fraudulent messages falsely referenced security clearance from the Department of State Services and attributed the communication to the spokesperson. “The inclusion of a reference to DSS clearance and attribution to the ministry’s spokesperson in the fraudulent message is a deliberate attempt to deceive the public,” the statement said.
The ministry stated that it does not use email, WhatsApp, or unsolicited contacts for hiring. Ebienfa said, “No fees are required at any stage of recruitment or diplomatic postings within the ministry or Nigeria’s missions abroad.”
The statement noted, “The Ministry does not authorise any individual or entity to request payments on its behalf for employment or diplomatic appointments.”
The ministry urged victims to report anyone demanding money for diplomatic appointments to security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force. The foreign affairs ministry confirmed that inquiries regarding employment should only be directed through its official communication channels.
