Nigerian Ambassador in Niger Republic, H. E. Mohammed Sani Usman, has not been expelled nor had he been given a 48-hour ultimatum to leave the country, the Nigerian government said at the weekend.
Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry debunked reports doing the rounds in a section of the media to that effect.
Spokesperson of the Ministry, Mrs Francisca K. Omayuli, said the report that Ambassador Usman was on Friday, August 25, 2023, expelled by the Nigerian junta was not correct.
The statement also dispelled reports about the impending expulsion of the ambassador.
Read the statement: “The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to news making (doing) the rounds on social media that the Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Niger, H. E. Mohammed Sani Usman was on Friday, 25th August, 2023 expelled and given 48 hours to leave the country.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the general (sic) public that this information is false and as such should be disregarded.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria warns against the circulation of unverified information capable of jeopardizing the ongoing mediation efforts by ECOWAS in the political impasse in Niger.”