The Federal Government has warned Nigerians against a fraudulent online employment scheme offering jobs in the country’s diplomatic missions abroad.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement on Wednesday, discredited the scam and clarified that it does not carry out direct recruitment.

Ministry spokesman, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the recruitment of Foreign Service officers is handled solely by 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.

According to Ebienfa, scammers have even used his name to send fraudulent emails to unsuspecting individuals.

“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.

One of the fraudulent messages allegedly informed recipients of a successful application for diplomatic service in Juba, South Sudan, instructing them to pay N165,800 for a diplomatic passport.

He stated, “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 dismissed the offer as a complete fabrication, reiterating that all diplomatic recruitment follows a structured process: selection by the Federal Civil Service Commission, training at the Foreign Service Academy, and formal deployment.

He added that diplomatic and official passports are issued free of charge.

He warned, “No Nigerian should pay for a diplomatic passport or believe any job offer claiming to come directly from the Ministry.”