The Federal Government, alongside Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has banned the conferment of “Eze Ndigbo” titles outside Igboland following diplomatic concerns linked to the practice.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, announced the decision during an Ohanaeze meeting in Enugu, describing the spread of such titles abroad as a source of embarrassment and conflict for Nigeria.

She stated that while Nigerians in the diaspora are free to promote their culture, creating traditional leadership structures in foreign countries has led to repeated clashes with local authorities.

The move follows recent unrest in South Africa, where the coronation of an “Eze Ndigbo” figure triggered protests, property damage, and confrontations with security forces after it was viewed as conflicting with local traditional systems.

Nigerian diplomatic missions distanced themselves from the incident, clarifying that such installations are cultural and not officially recognized. Similar tensions were also reported in Ghana, where the issue sparked protests before diplomatic intervention eased the situation.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has now formally prohibited the use of the title abroad, stating that anyone who assumes it outside Igboland does so without the backing of the Igbo people.

The Federal Government says it will enforce the directive through its foreign missions to prevent further diplomatic disputes.