The Federal Government has allocated ₦53 billion for the renovation of 103 foreign missions, according to reports.
The funds will cover essential needs such as the renovation of chanceries, staff quarters, ambassadors’ residences, and the purchase of office furniture and official vehicles.
Specific allocations include ₦554 million for the foreign mission in Abidjan, ₦812 million for Banjul, and ₦899 million for Niamey, among others.
Despite this allocation, financial difficulties persist, with estimates suggesting that almost $1 billion is needed to clear arrears and fully finance Nigeria’s 109 missions worldwide.
In line with the reassessment of Nigeria’s foreign policy by President Bola Tinubu, 83 ambassadors were recalled in September 2023.
However, the process of appointing new envoys has faced delays due to inadequate funding.
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar confirmed these financial limitations, stating that the insufficient resources hinder the effective operation of embassies.
“There is no point in sending ambassadors if we lack the funds for their travel and to run the missions effectively.
Mr. President is addressing this and it will be resolved in due course,” Tuggar said during a ministerial briefing in May 2023.
The House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs has summoned key officials, including the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, to discuss the allocation to the foreign ministry in the 2025 budget.
The meeting is scheduled for January 14, 2025.
Chairman Oluwole Oke noted that the ₦287 billion allocated for recurrent expenditure in the 2025 budget is insufficient for the ministry’s needs, particularly for maintaining foreign missions.
He highlighted that the ministry requires at least ₦500 billion to address immediate operational challenges.
Oke also suggested that foreign missions should be allowed to acquire properties through mortgages, which would reduce the financial strain of paying high rents in cities such as New York, Dubai, and Paris.
The 2025 budget, titled Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity, includes ₦66.88 billion for capital expenditure for the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
However, the budget is still awaiting approval by the National Assembly.
