In a swift response to the circulating fake list of ambassadorial nominees on social media, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a press release urging the public to disregard the list making the rounds as a pointer to fresh appointments of ambassadors.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, who spoke to newsmen earlier yesterday, emphasized that no such appointments have been made, and the appointment of ambassadors is solely the prerogative of the President.
The fake list, which has been making the rounds on social media platforms, has recently caused confusion and speculation among Nigerians.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has come out to clarify that the list is entirely not true and should be disregarded and not taken seriously.
This is not the first time that fake news has caused confusion in Nigeria, as similar results as this has been experienced in several occasions.
In 2015, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had recalled Nigerian ambassadors, describing the reports as “false”.
The public has been further advised and warned to be cautious of fake news and to verify information through official channels before sharing or believing it.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also urged Nigerians to disregard the fake list and to wait for official announcements from the presidency or the ministry going forward.
This is in other to always promote true and credible reports thereby avoiding rumours and bad blood in the public.
In a related development, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has also warned the public about fake appointments being peddled by unscrupulous elements.
The SGF described the fake appointments as “false” and urged Nigerians to be wary of the perpetrators.
As the fake news menace continues to spread, it is essential for Nigerians to be vigilant and to verify information before sharing or believing it.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the SGF have urged Nigerians to disregard fake news and to wait for official announcements from authorized sources.
The appointment of ambassadors is solely the prerogative of the President.
The public are thereby admonished to stay informed, stay vigilant, and always verify information before sharing or believing it.
