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Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved his redeployment from Germany to South Africa as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate after he personally requested a change in posting. According to him, he formally wrote to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressing discomfort with the Germany assignment and asked to be reassigned to South Africa instead. 
Fani-Kayode explained that his preference for South Africa was influenced by personal and ideological reasons, stating that he had spent most of his life in Europe and wanted to serve in an African country he had never previously visited. He also described South Africa as a nation whose political outlook and Pan-African vision align more closely with his convictions on global affairs and Nigeria’s foreign policy direction. 
The former minister disclosed that the request was approved by former Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar before receiving final approval from President Tinubu. He added that the redeployment involved a “swap arrangement” with Senator Sam Enang, who was initially posted to South Africa but will now take up the Germany assignment instead. 
Fani-Kayode also used the opportunity to dismiss reports claiming that Germany rejected his nomination as ambassador, describing the allegations as false and malicious. He insisted that no official rejection was ever communicated by the German government and revealed that he has instructed his lawyers and relevant security agencies to investigate and pursue action against those behind the reports. 
