Buhari govt clears air on viral list of Nigerians to be awarded National Honours

The Federal Government has asked Nigerians to shun a purported list of nominees for national honours being circulated on digital media platforms.

IDOMA VOICE understands that a list had surfaced online earlier containing the name of President Muhammadu Buhari’s late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari and 436 other nominees for the 2022 National Honours Award.

The report earlier revealed that the investiture is billed to hold on 11 October 2022 at the State House in Abuja.

Among those to be honoured by Buhari are presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, and the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
A statement on Monday, however, coming from the desk of the Director Press, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Julie Jacobs, stated that the authentic list for the said award is not released yet.

Jacobs assured that the main list would be published at the appropriate time and medium. The government official advised members of the public to disregard the viral list as it is an attempt by overzealous reporters whose aim is to break news even when such news is fake.

The statement read, “The attention of the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs has been drawn to a purported list of nominees for National Honours being circulated by some online media organisations.

“While it is true that President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, will be conferring National Honours on deserving Nigerians and friends of Nigeria on 11th October, 2022, the authentic list of nominees is yet to be released to the public. The Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs will publish the list at the appropriate time and medium.

“Members of the public are hereby enjoined to discountenance the list in circulation as it is an attempt by overzealous reporters whose aim is to break news even when such news is fake.”