The Federal Government has moved to halt the growing misuse of the “Ambassador” title in Nigeria, warning that only individuals formally appointed by the President are legally recognised to bear the designation.

The directive was announced on Friday in Abuja by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, during a press briefing where he expressed concern over the increasing number of Nigerians parading themselves as diplomats without official backing.

According to him, the development has created confusion within diplomatic circles, with several foreign missions reaching out to the ministry for verification of individuals claiming ambassadorial status.

“The Ministry has been receiving inquiries from diplomatic missions asking us to verify the status of Nigerians parading themselves as ambassadors,” he said, noting that the trend is largely driven by organisations that arbitrarily confer such titles.

Ebienfa explained that while some institutions appoint individuals as brand ambassadors for promotional purposes, many recipients go beyond that role by adopting the title as a formal prefix, thereby misleading the public and officials alike.

“All these categories of persons, more often than not, add the prefix ‘Ambassador’ to their names, and that is causing serious confusion,” he said.

He cited a recent case involving a group offering what it described as ambassadorial appointments to Nigerians in exchange for a fee running into millions of naira, with promises of diplomatic privileges including special visa considerations, access to international events, and airport protocol services.

“The package includes an appointment letter, diplomatic passport, vehicle number plates and identity card. This is completely false and misleading,” Ebienfa said, adding that the group falsely claimed affiliation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry stressed that such practices are illegal and warned that those involved risk prosecution for impersonation and fraud.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it is only the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who has the prerogative to appoint and accredit ambassadors,” he stated.

He emphasised that no individual, group or non-governmental organisation is authorised to confer diplomatic titles, insisting that ambassadorial status cannot be bought or obtained through membership of any organisation.

The government also cautioned against the use of fake diplomatic materials, including passports, identity cards and vehicle number plates bearing national insignia, describing such acts as criminal.

While acknowledging the role of brand ambassadors in marketing and advocacy, Ebienfa clarified that such positions carry no legal or diplomatic recognition.

“Brand ambassadors have no legal right to add the title ‘Ambassador’ to their names. That designation is not recognised by our laws in that context,” he said.

He disclosed that the government is working with relevant agencies, including the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Federal Road Safety Corps, to identify and prosecute offenders involved in the fraudulent use of diplomatic titles and materials.

The move forms part of wider efforts by the Federal Government to restore order in the use of official titles. Recently, authorities also cautioned against the indiscriminate use of honorary doctorate titles, directing that such distinctions should not be adopted as formal prefixes in official or public engagements.

On the state of Nigeria’s foreign missions, Ebienfa acknowledged that funding constraints have affected operations but assured that steps are being taken to address the situation.

“If I say we have it all perfect in terms of finance, I will be doing a disservice,” he said, noting that both headquarters and missions abroad have faced challenges.

He, however, expressed confidence that adequate resources would be provided to support newly appointed ambassadors.

“We are confident that Mr. President will not appoint ambassadors that will go abroad and be stranded,” he added.

He also confirmed that some outstanding expenses related to Nigeria’s participation in the 2025 United Nations General Assembly remain unresolved but said efforts are ongoing to settle them.

The government reiterated its commitment to protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s diplomatic service, warning that any act capable of bringing the country into disrepute would be met with appropriate legal action.