TheNewsGuru

Tag: Ambassadors

  • FG to set up committee to select new ambassadors

    FG to set up committee to select new ambassadors

    The Federal Government will soon set up a new committee that will select the new set of ambassadors that will replace those that have been recalled, according to an aide to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

    Alkasim Abdulkadir, the Special Assistant to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar on Media and Communications Strategy disclosed this in an interview with NAN in Abuja.

    Abdulkadir said the selection of the new ambassadors would require wide-ranging consultations with relevant stakeholders.

    The minister’s aide added that all recalled ambassadors have returned to the country contrary to the reports that most of them have been unable to return due to financial constraints.

    Recall that on Sept. 2, President Bola Tinubu recalled all the country’s ambassadors, both career and non-career.

    They were asked to return to the country on or before Oct. 31, 2023.

    Nigeria has no fewer than 300 foreign missions.

    Ajuri Ngelale spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu said the action was a sequel to the president’s careful study of the present state of affairs at Nigerian consulates, offices, and embassies across the world.

    Ngelale added that the latest move was also in line with the President’s Renewed Hope agenda.

    He emphasised the President’s determination to ensure world-class efficiency and quality in service delivery, saying that he would henceforth, characterise foreign and domestic service delivery to citizens, residents, and prospective visitors.

  • Glo names Asake, Kizz Daniel, Chike brand ambassadors

    Glo names Asake, Kizz Daniel, Chike brand ambassadors

    Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has unveiled three top Nigerian music acts, Asake, Kizz Daniel and Chike, as new brand ambassadors.

    They were unveiled at a colourful ceremony at the company’s corporate headquarters, Mike Adenuga Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Globacom said the engagement of the icons “is meant to project the best Nigerians as models for younger people who are tirelessly aspiring to succeed. This is more important in an era where positive heroes and mentors are scarce and hard to come by. The intention is not just to promote the growth of music, Nollywood and sports where we have been very prominent, but also to encourage our teeming youths to aspire toward realizing their dreams by looking up to these ambassadors as mentors”.

    It stated that it was celebrating its 20th anniversary “with the appointment of these new ambassadors to project the power of youth and enterprise and how much they can achieve with the right focus, passion and dedication that can come from seeing others who have succeeded. This is very much part of our tradition as we believe the strength of a nation lies in the ability and potentials of its youth”.

    Globacom has been synonymous with sponsorship of major events and appointment of talented Nigerians as ambassadors since 2003 when it rolled out services and this, the company said, had become a practice for which Globacom has always led the way in Nigeria.

    Glo, which pledged to continue to promote the entertainment sector as it held great prospects to promote Nigeria to the world and also transforming lives, also said that “having these stars as ambassadors is our way of inspiring a whole generation of young people with vision who can do better and achieve more without losing hope along the way, even when confronted with challenges,”.

    While promising to represent the Glo brand by projecting the ideals of the company at all times, the three stars thanked the founder and Chairman of Globacom, Dr Mike Adenuga Jr., for the honour done to them.

  • Turkish President Erdogan orders expulsion of US, Germany, eight other countries ambassadors

    Turkish President Erdogan orders expulsion of US, Germany, eight other countries ambassadors

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday told his foreign minister to expel the ambassadors of 10 countries including Germany and the United States who appealed for the release of a jailed civil society leader.

    The envoys issued a highly unusual joint statement on Monday saying the continued detention of Parisian-born philanthropist and activist Osman Kavala “cast a shadow” over Turkey.

    The escalating row with the Western countries — most of which are also NATO allies — caps a torrid week for Turkey in which it was added to a global money-laundering and terrorism-financing blacklist and its currency plunged over fears of economic mismanagement and the risk of hyperinflation.

    “I have ordered our foreign minister to declare these 10 ambassadors as persona non grata as soon as possible,” Erdogan said, using a diplomatic term meaning the first step before expulsion.

    “They must leave here the day they no longer know Turkey,” he said, accusing them of “indecency”.

    The Western ambassadors had called for a “just and speedy resolution” to Kavala’s case.

    Kavala, 64, has been in jail without a conviction since 2017, and faces a string of charges linked to 2013 anti-government protests and a failed military coup in 2016.

    In comments about the ambassadors published in local media on Thursday, Erdogan said “we cannot have the luxury of hosting them in our country”.

    The Turkish lira extended its fall into record-low territory against the dollar within moments of Erdogan’s comments on fears of a new wave of Turkish tensions with the West.

    The lira has lost one-fifth of its value against the dollar since the start of the year and the annual inflation rate has reached nearly 20 percent — quadruple the government target.

    Erdogan is in danger of “dragging the Turkish economy into a president-made crisis”, Eurasia Group said.

    The diplomatic friction was compounded when the global financial misconduct watchdog FATF followed through on threats to place Turkey under surveillance for failing to properly combat money laundering and terrorism financing.

    Turkey joins a “grey list” of countries that includes Syria, South Sudan and Yemen.

    Erdogan had fought hard against the designation, introducing new legislation that was ostensibly aimed to fight terror networks — but which critics said ended up mostly targeted Turkish NGOs that promote pro-Kurdish causes and human rights.

    Although not well known internationally, Kavala has become a symbol to his supporters of the sweeping crackdown Erdogan unleashed after surviving the 2016 coup attempt.

  • BREAKING: Controversy as Senate confirms ex-Service Chiefs as ambassadors

    BREAKING: Controversy as Senate confirms ex-Service Chiefs as ambassadors

    The Nigerian Senate has confirmed the immediate past service chiefs of the country as non-career ambassadors.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the confirmation followed a report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs presented by Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa.

    The former service chiefs confirmed as non-career ambassadors are General Abayomi G. Olonisakin (Rtd) – Ekiti State, Lt. General Tukur Y. Buratai (Rtd) – Borno State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete E. Ibas (Rtd) – Cross River State, Air Marshal Sadique B. Abubakar (Rtd) – Bauchi State and Air Vice Marshal Muhammad S. Usman (Rtd) – Kano State.

    They were confirmed during plenary on Tuesday.

    “On that call, the nominations cannot be nullified because we said they should be changed” – Senate President Lawan.

    However, the confirmation of the former service chiefs as non-career ambassadors did not come without controversy as some Senators argued against their confirmation.

    Especially, some of the Senators argued that the nomination of the former service chiefs as non-career ambassadors by President Muhammadu Buhari should be nullified.

    Recall that Buhari had on the 5th of February sent the names of the former service chiefs to the Senate for confirmation as non-career ambassadors.

    Nigerians condemned the nomination, arguing that it was a ploy to shield the former service chiefs from prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged abuses committed by the Nigerian military under their watch.

    A petition against the former service chiefs, it was learnt, was dismissed by the Senator Bulkachuwa-led Committee on Foreign Affairs to pave way for the smooth confirmation of the former service chiefs as non-career ambassadors.

    Stating why the nomination of the former service chiefs cannot be nullified, Senate President Ahmad Lawan said: “I checked our resolutions and in some of our resolutions, we said the President should change, replace and remove them as Service Chiefs. They have been removed which I think it’s a plus for this Senate.

    “Now if they are nominated for something that is different, I think our resolutions asking for their removal as Service Chiefs does not cross over to their nomination. On that call, the nominations cannot be nullified because we said they should be changed”.

    Following the controversy on the floor of the Senate, the upper legislative chamber resolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

    After reverting to plenary, the Senate confirmed the former service chiefs as non-career ambassadors.

    “These nominees that we have just confirmed are nominees that have served this country to the best of their ability. Our appeal to the Executive is to make sure they use their experiences as military men to the best.

    “We wish them a very successful career in their capacity as Non-Career Ambassadors,” Senate President Lawan said thereafter.

  • Buhari inducts newly appointed ambassadors, urges them to protect Nigerians abroad

    Buhari inducts newly appointed ambassadors, urges them to protect Nigerians abroad

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday inducted the newly appointed ambassadors, charges them to fight hard, and protect Nigerians living abroad.

    The President who joined the event virtually urged the appointees to go out and represent the nation with utmost dedication and pride.

    He said the Federal Government has identified nine priority areas to guide its foreign policy- cutting across health, corruption, transportation, security, education among others, urging the ambassadors to be guided also by these.

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema on his part commended the President’s effort at fostering peace and a good bilateral relationship with the international community, which according to him cuts across security and trade.

    He said the relationship has also seen Nigeria receiving money looted from the country.

    Mr. Onyema added that Nigeria is on good terms with every country in the world, with no exception.

    He said President Buhari has leveraged on the goodwill of his foreign policy to secure the re-election of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala among other Nigerians holding key positions in international organisations.

    The newly appointed ambassadors are 94, eight Consul Generals, and five Charge D’ Affairs.

    43 of them are career ambassadors while 53 others are political ambassadors.

    The appointment follows the approval of the envoys by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement by its Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda.

    While Aduda did not state when the President gave the approval, he noted that those to be posted included 43 career ambassadors and 52 non-career ambassadors.

    He said following the development, the government has already commenced the process of requesting Agreement from the prospective host countries.

    The permanent secretary revealed that the ministry would organise an induction course for the ambassadors-designate and their spouses.

    He explained that the event which would hold on a date to be announced soon was to prepare and facilitate the movement of the ambassadors-designate to their respective missions.

  • Presidency attacks PDP for condemning Buhari’s nomination of ex-service chiefs as ambassadors

    Presidency attacks PDP for condemning Buhari’s nomination of ex-service chiefs as ambassadors

    The Presidency on Saturday condemned main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for faulting President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent nomination of former service chiefs as non-career ambassadors.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the Presidency said contrary to the PDP’s attack on the matter, the “transition is normal in decent democratic societies.”

    The statement was titled “PDP should stop defaming President Buhari’s former service chiefs.”

    The Presidency particularly faulted the PDP’s position that the former service chiefs were nominated as ambassadors so as to shield them from trial by the International Criminal Court.

    The statement read, “How on earth can decent people run down hardworking professionals who have put in their best to defend their country? How can you run down your country and equate that with normal political dialogue and opposition?

    “What is baffling about this false and baseless assertion is that this is coming, not from Boko Haram terrorists who the military kept largely in check and confined to a known section of the country, Sambisa, but from a so-called leading opposition party that fraudulently kept power for 16 years and is nursing the hope of one day returning to office as an elected government.

    “What is more, under these corrupt politicians the insurgency conquered large swathes of territory-18 Local Government Areas.

    “Pray, if a political party, in a blind search for power can spurn the interest of the nation, embrace the language of hate campaign against the country’s military as enunciated by the terrorists, as the PDP does, what will be left for the Boko Haram to do? PDP is doing Boko Haram’s work!”

    The Presidency challenged the PDP that if it has evidence of rights abuse against the military in the war against terrorists, it should publish such evidence instead of levying grave accusations without proofs.

    It wondered in whose interest the opposition party is making the accusations which it described as lacking any depth.

    The statement added, “To add, we don’t think the ICC, which these childish calls are being made needs to be lectured on democratic values and human rights by the PDP. Who are they, and what is their record in office to lecture anyone? Zaki Biam and Odi where thousands of citizens were on record, the genocide operation comes to mind. Did they report themselves to the ICC?

    “PDP’s attacks on the ambassadorial nominations should be seen in the context of the opposition party’s track record as a university of liars, whose modus operandi is to propagate lies.

    “The President is rewarding hard work and exceptional sacrifice by a set of military leaders who gave their best to the nation and will be remembered, sooner than later, for their contributions to the security and survival of Nigeria as one nation. They should be allowed to move to the next level.

    “This is so that their examples will help to inspire others if given the opportunity to serve.”

  • See list of Buhari’s postings for new, old ambassadors

    See list of Buhari’s postings for new, old ambassadors

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the deployment of Ambassador-Designates to Nigerian Missions abroad.

    A list of the new postings according to a report published in Punch newspaper shows that 11 ambassadors were re-appointed, eight retained in their current countries of posting, while three others were redeployed.

    The Current Nigerian Ambassador to Ireland, Uzoma Emenike, a career diplomat, was posted to the United States as the ambassador, while M.I. Bashir will serve as deputy ambassador.

    A former Minister of State for Defence, Demola Seriki, was redeployed to Spain as Nigerian Ambassador, while a former Minister of Mines and Steel, Sarafa Ishola, will serve as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

    Also, former Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian, Debo Adesina, will serve as Ambassador to Togo. Another former editor Oma Djebah will be posted to Thailand,

    In all, there are 52 non-career envoys posted out by the President and 43 career ambassadors based on the confirmed list from the Senate.

    According to the list, the eight ambassadors that will remain at their duty posts include: Mohammed Rimi (United Arab Emirates), Jidda Baba (China), Gani Bura (Lebanon), Yusuf Tuggar (Germany), Baba Madugu (Switzerland) and Deborah Illiya (Congo).

    Tijani Muhammmad-Bande will also retain his position as the Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York while Adeyinka Asekun will remain the High Commissioner to Canada.

    Modupe Irele, who is the current Ambassador to France, will be redeployed to Hungary while Eniola Ajayi, the Ambassador to Hungary is expected to be redeployed to the Netherlands.

    For non-career diplomats, Ijeoma Chineyerem will resume as Ambassador to Ireland, Abdulahi Shehu (Russia), Haruna Manta (South Africa), Kayode Laro (France), Paul Adikwu (The Vatican), Abubakar Moriki (Japan), Opunimi Akinkugbe (Greece) and Ali Magashi (South Korea).

    Other postings include M.O. Abam (Italy), N.A. Kolo (Israel), A. Sule (India), G.Y. Hamza (Ghana), A.N. Madubike (Australia) and O.C Onowu (Belgium).

    The remaining appointees will serve as deputy ambassadors or heads of mission. They include A.E. Alleboy (Deputy Ambassador to France), G.E. Edokpa (Deputy Permanent Representative to The UN), Ben Okoyen (Cuba), G.M. Okeke (Deputy Head of Mission to Switzerland), S.Sani to London, (Deputy High Commissioner to UK), I.A Iwejuo (Ethiopia as Deputy Ambassador), I.A. Alatishe (Deputy Ambassador to Russia) and I.R. Ocheni (Germany).

  • AU ambassadors demand apology from Trump over ‘shit hole’ remarks on Africa

    African Union ambassadors to the UN demanded an apology from U.S. President Donald Trump for his racist remark on the people of Africa.

    The group of over 50 nations in a statement said: “the AU expressed its disappointment and outrage over the unfortunate comment made by Mr Donald Trump, President of the United States of America.

    “The remarks dishonour the celebrated American creed and respect for diversity and human dignity.

    “While expressing our shock, dismay and outrage, the African Union truly believes that there is a huge misunderstanding of the African continent and its people by the current administration.

    “There is a serious need for dialogue between the U.S. administration and the African countries. The African Union, through its member States, values the strategic partnership with the U.S.

    “This relationship should be from the point of equality and mutual respect based on accepted international principles of respect for basic human dignity of all,” the mission said.

    The Mission demanded a retraction of the statement and an apology from the U.S. leader.

    “The AU mission condemns the statement in the strongest terms and demands a retraction of the comment as well as an apology to not only the Africans but to all people of African descent across the globe.”

    The U.S. president reportedly made the comment during a meeting with congressional leaders in the Oval Office on Thursday.

    “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” Trump allegedly said after being presented with a proposal to restore protections for immigrants from the countries in question.

    The UN has also branded as racist, the reported remark branding Haiti, El Salvador and unspecified African nations as “shithole countries”.

    “If confirmed these are shocking and shameful comments from the President of the United States. There is no other word you can use but ‘racist’.

    “You cannot dismiss entire countries and continents as ‘shitholes’, whose entire populations who are not white, are therefore not welcome,” said Rupert Coleville, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. (NAN)

     

  • Buhari writes Senate, seeks appointment of CBN Board members, Ambassadors

    President Muhammadu Buhari has written the leadership of the National Assembly requesting the confirmation of the appointment of 5 Non-Executive Directors of the Board of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    In a letter dated 12th April, 2017 and read on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, Buhari said their nomination was in accordance with sections 6 (1) (d) and 10 (1) and (2) of the Central Bank of Nigeria ( Establishment Act, 2007).

    The nominees as contained in the list are, Prof. Ummu Ahmed Jalingo (North East), Prof. Justitia Odinakachukwu Nnabuko (South East), Prof. Mike I. Obadan (South South), Dr. Abdu Abubakar ( North West) and Adeola Adetunji (South West).

    In a related development, the President resubmitted the name of Justice Sylvanus Adiewere Nsofor, as Non-career Ambassadorial Nominee from Imo State.

    Other names submitted for replacement as Non-career Ambassadorial Nominees include, Joseph Olusola Iji, from Ondo State and Commodore Yusuf Jonga Hinna (Rtd), from Gombe State.

    The nominees have been referred to various committees for further actions.

  • World Malaria Day: US names Yari, Dangote Ambassadors in Nigeria

    The United States has announced Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar of Zamfara State and President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote as its Malaria Fight Ambassadors in Nigeria.

    The recognition, bestowed on the recipients on Monday, was jointly organized by the United States International Development Agency (USAID), the US President’s Malaria Initiative in Nigeria and the United States Mission in Nigeria.

    Yari was named along with Alhaji Aliko Dangote as the ambassadors of Malaria fight for 2016 in Public and Private Sectors respectively, at this Year’s World Malaria Day in recognition of their contributions to the fight against Malaria in Nigeria.

    The event took place at the Embassy of the United States of America in Abuja and was witnessed by the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewale; the Deputy Head of US Mission in Nigeria, Mr. David Young and Head of the USAID.

    The recipients in separate goodwill messages, expressed their appreciation over the efforts of the United States Government, the USAID and the PMI in the fight against Malaria.


    Yari urged President Trump of the United States to consider the American Interest in the Developing Nations as key and strategic to the US economic and other humanitarian development policies.

    Yari said: “As leader of the world, there is greater need for the government of the United States of America and President Donald Trump to consider other countries, particularly countries with US interest in the US economic and humanitarian development policies.”

    The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum said the NGF will continue to collaborate with the US Government and other Donor Agencies in the fight against Malaria and other diseases in Nigeria.

    Yari also expressed delight over an official declaration at the occasion that, Zamfara is 0.9% of HIV/AIDS Infection.

    He said since he came on board as the Governor of the State in 2011, he adopted a holistic approach to the fight against HIV/AIDS, involving Traditional Rulers, politicians, Government Officials, and Professionals.

    Yari explained further that part of his administration’s strategy include adhering to the advice by the professionals, and the International Donor Agencies.