Yusuf Tuggar, Foreign Affairs Minister
FG Proposes N53bn for Renovation of 103 Foreign Missions Amid Financial Challenges
The Federal Government has earmarked N53 billion to renovate 103 foreign missions, addressing needs such as chancery upgrades, staff quarters, ambassadors’ residences, office furniture, and official vehicles.
Allocations include N554 million for Abidjan, N812 million for Banjul, N567 million for Libreville, and N899 million for Niamey, among others. Despite these plans, financial challenges persist, with nearly $1 billion required to clear arrears and adequately fund Nigeria’s 109 missions globally.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration recalled 83 ambassadors in September 2023, but delays in appointing new envoys are attributed to funding shortfalls.
The Foreign Affairs Minister confirmed that operational and ambassadorial support funding remains insufficient.
A House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs has summoned key officials, including Ministers of Budget and Foreign Affairs, to address the underfunding in the 2025 budget proposal, which allocated N66.88 billion for capital and N286.88 billion for recurrent expenditures.
Officials and lawmakers argue that the ministry’s needs far exceed current allocations, emphasizing the urgency of resolving funding issues to maintain Nigeria’s global presence and fulfill international obligations.