Naira’s free-fall, lean budget hobble Nigerian missions abroad

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar and Senate Committee Chairman on Foreign Affairs, Abubakar Sani Bello

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, had during the 2024 budget defense implored the National Assembly to expedite action on the bill seeking to place the ministry’s budget on the first line charge. As of the time of 2024 allocation, the N130 billion amounted to only $142.4 million whereas the N54 billion allocated in the year 2020 was exchanged for $150 million.

According to Ode, revenues generated from missions are paid directly to the bank account of the Nigerian Immigration Service and cannot be accessed by missions as erroneously speculated. Sha, who is a Director of Research at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies , added that funding is key in sustaining diplomatic missions.

For the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Shehu Gabam, underfunding of embassies is a sign that the nation’s foreign policy has collapsed. “Embassies are like a nation and they have immunity. Since you have citizens living in that country, you will need to service their needs. But go to Nigerian embassies abroad, most of the staff cannot eat well, they cannot even offer you a cup of tea. Some of them cannot also pay salaries. So, if they have become too expensive for us to maintain, we can trim them down but keep those that have economic value in exchange.

Ubogu said: “As the Vice President of the Nigerian community here in Turkey, we work closely with the embassy and the staff are always on hand to listen and help solve problems affecting Nigeria. However, I believe that with better funding of the embassy, they would be more impactful.” Ubogu narrated the experience of a pregnant Nigerian lady who was arrested at the airport and how the intervention of the embassy saved the situation.

As Nigerians seek improved funding for missions abroad, there is also a need for transparency and accountability in the management of the appropriated funds as their contributions to guard the image of the country. There have been instances where heads of missions were accused of actions that were not befitting of the symbol of a country. º

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