‘Beware of Scammers, Foreign Affairs Not Recruiting’ — Spokesperson Warns Public 

‘Beware of Scammers, Foreign Affairs Not Recruiting’ — Spokesperson Warns Public 

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a stern warning to the public regarding a fraudulent recruitment scheme circulating online, which falsely claims to be affiliated with the ministry and offers employment opportunities within Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad.

During a press briefing held in Abuja on Wednesday, the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, urged citizens to disregard any such communications, emphasizing that the ministry does not engage in direct recruitment.

“We want to put on record that the ministry doesn’t recruit officers directly, not at all. Recruitment of foreign service officers is done by the Federal Civil Service Commission and not by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he stated.

Ebienfa revealed that the scam originated from misleading online advertisements purportedly signed by the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs.

In a concerning escalation, scammers have recently begun sending counterfeit employment letters to unsuspecting Nigerians.

“One of the fake messages reads: ‘We are pleased to inform you that your application has been considered for diplomatic services at the Embassy of Nigeria in Juba, South Sudan to take effect 12 May 2025. It even directs candidates to pay N165,800 for a diplomatic passport,” he explained.

Describing the fraudulent offer as entirely spurious, Ebienfa asserted, “This did not emanate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There is no way you will be recruited into the Nigerian Diplomatic Service without going through the process of training, which is the Foreign Service Academy.”

He clarified that all recruits into the Foreign Service must adhere to a formal process: recruitment by the Federal Civil Service Commission, training at the Foreign Service Academy, and subsequent deployment abroad.

“The first deployment is one year of attachment. Subsequent postings last three years,” he added.

Ebienfa cautioned that no Nigerian should trust any job offer claiming to originate directly from the ministry or pay for a diplomatic passport.

“Diplomatic passports are free. Even official passports for civil servants are free. So nobody should fall victim,” he warned.

The spokesperson noted that the scammers are exploiting the names of high-ranking officials within the ministry, including his own.

“They are sending out emails with my name as the signatory,” he disclosed.

While fielding questions from journalists regarding measures to combat the scammers, Ebienfa indicated that the ministry plans to collaborate with security agencies.

“What the ministry intends to do is to write officially to the relevant security agencies to track the persons behind this website and the emails. If someone is paying money, definitely there will be an account that will be provided for the payment,” he stated.

He expressed concern that if the scam remains unchecked, it could tarnish Nigeria’s reputation internationally. “Tomorrow you will see unsuspecting Nigerians arriving in different countries with fake documents. When real officers show up, there could be confusion,” he cautioned.

Ebienfa therefore assured the public that additional disclaimers would be disseminated through the ministry’s social media platforms, and that proactive measures would be taken to safeguard both Nigerians and the integrity of the foreign service.

“This is not just about fake news. It is about protecting Nigerians from losing their hard-earned money and protecting the name of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he concluded.