Femi Fani-Kayode denies being rejected by Germany, now posted to South Africa

By Samuel Abasiekong-Abasiekong

Femi Fani-Kayode a former Nigeria Aviation Minister who was one of the 32 Ambassadors
designated by President Bola Hamed Tinubu in November 2025 and posted to Germany on March 6, 2026 is now moved to South Africa.

The designation of Fani-Kayode as Nigeria Ambassador to Germany sparked a nationwide controversies with some describing him as
“divisive, ethnocentric, tribalistic, and religious fundamentalist”

A civil society group, the Global Coalition for Security & Democracy in Nigeria (GCSDN) further wrote to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on March 16, 2026, urging him to reject Femi Fani-Kayode. They called him a “misfit” and said his appointment was to reward him for spreading disinformation during Nigeria’s 2023 elections. More over the EU Election Observation Mission had earlier flagged Fani-Kayode for peddling fake news in 2023.

There were widespread reports in March 2026 claiming Germany rejected Femi Fani-Kayode ambassadorial nomination, but he denied the reports and called them “fake news.”

On Thursday 7th May 2026, Femi Fani-Kayode also known as FFK in Press Statement signed by him announced South Africa as his new posting and explained thus:

“Ut gives me pleasure to announce the fact that Mr. President has graciously approved my posting as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to South Africa.

“This came a few days after the initial posting to Germany was announced and after I made a formal representation to the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, that I was not comfortable with Germany for a number of personal reasons and given the fact that I had lived in Europe most of my life I would prefer to go to South Africa which is a country that I had never been to and for which I have so much interest.

“I also expressed the fact that I would rather serve in a country that shares some of my convictions, beilefs and values when it comes to world affairs, that has the biggest economy in Africa, that has closer ties to Nigeria and that is more proximate to my political thinking when it comes to foreign affairs and a pan African vision.

“I therefore made an application for a redeployment to South Africa two days after the initial announcement was made and I am pleased to say that after the then Foreign Minister (H.E. Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar) heard my reasons he considered them favourably after which he conveyed the request to Mr. President who graciously approved it.

“I will be eternally grateful to Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this favourable consideration”, FFK explained.

Fani-Kayode explanation which sounds like an employee who choses his portfolio and tasks is rated by many as disrespectful to the presidency and stubboness to his employer.

FFK posting to South Africa is a swap with Senator Ita Solomon Enang who has long resumed work, but now asked to move to Germany which was FFK initial country.