The Federal Government has issued a strong warning to Nigerians over a fraudulent online job scam falsely advertising employment opportunities at Nigerian diplomatic missions abroad.
In a press release on Wednesday, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs debunked the fake recruitment offers, clarifying that it does not conduct direct recruitment for foreign missions.
Ministry spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, emphasized that the hiring of Foreign Service officers is strictly the responsibility of the Federal Civil Service Commission.
“We want to put it on record that the Ministry does not recruit officers directly; recruitment of Foreign Service officers is carried out by the Federal Civil Service Commission,” Ebienfa said.
The ministry’s warning follows an increase in online inquiries and reports of fraudulent employment letters and fake advertisements targeting unsuspecting Nigerians.
According to Ebienfa, some of these online scammers have even impersonated him by using his name to send deceptive emails.
“They are sending out emails with my name as the signatory. 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,” he stated.
Fake diplomatic offers demand payment for passport
One of the fake messages reportedly claimed that the recipient had secured a diplomatic posting in Juba, South Sudan, instructing them to pay N165,800 for a diplomatic passport.
“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,” Ebienfa said.
He reiterated that such offers are entirely fictitious and warned the public not to fall for them. He also noted that diplomatic and official passports are issued free of charge.
“No Nigerian should pay for a diplomatic passport or believe any job offer claiming to come directly from the Ministry,” he warned.
Public urged to report suspicious activity
The Ministry urged Nigerians to disregard such messages and report any suspicious activity related to foreign service recruitment scams to the appropriate authorities.
The Federal Government, under the leadership of Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, is committed to protecting citizens from online scams and safeguarding the integrity of the diplomatic recruitment process.