Tayo Busayo, Abuja – The Federal Government has denied that the 2022 National Honours List has been officially released.

 

A statement issued on Monday by the Director Press, Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Julie Jacobs, said the purported list of nominees for national honours currently in circulation is nothing but fake.

 

It however confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari will be conferring National Honours on deserving Nigerians and friends of Nigeria, but that the authentic list of nominees is yet to be released to the public.

 

According to the purported list, a total of 436 Nigerians will be conferred with various titles. They include President Muhammadu Buhari’s late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari; presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina; the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Ishaq Oloyede; and the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, among others.

 

However, following critism over some of the recipients, the government denied that an investiture ceremony had been scheduled for October 11 at the State House in Abuja.

 

The statement read: “The attention of the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental 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 Intergovernmental 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.”