The Federal Government has publicly acknowledged the ongoing financial and operational difficulties confronting several Nigerian diplomatic and consular missions abroad.
These challenges, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed, are largely due to budgetary constraints, foreign exchange fluctuations, and structural inefficiencies in mission funding.
In a statement released on Monday, Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa admitted that the financial strain has affected critical operations, including delayed salaries for locally recruited staff, outstanding payments to service providers, and arrears in allowances for home-based officers.
“The ministry is not unaware of the restrictions that financial limitations have placed on the smooth running of the missions, including the inability to pay salaries of locally recruited staff, financial obligations to service providers, rent to landlords, and the foreign service allowance to home-based officers,” the statement read.
While acknowledging that these missions are not immune to broader economic realities, the ministry stressed that years of budgetary shortfalls have significantly hindered the effective functioning of missions, affecting Nigeria’s diplomatic reach and services abroad.
To address the pressing financial issues, the Ministry revealed that over 80 percent of available intervention funds have already been released.
Priority, according to the statement, has been given to service providers, locally recruited staff salaries, and arrears owed to officers, based on verified submissions from missions.
A dedicated committee was established to ensure transparency, validate mission debt profiles, and guarantee equitable distribution of funds.
Furthermore, the ministry has engaged the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to recover shortfalls from the 2024 fiscal year, largely arising from foreign exchange volatility.
“The government of President Bola Tinubu has graciously approved the settlement of the shortfall,” the ministry confirmed, noting that the first tranche of funds had already been disbursed and acknowledged by several missions.
Additionally, second-semester allocations have been approved, with coordination ongoing with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria to expedite release of personnel and overhead funds this week.
Looking beyond immediate relief, the ministry emphasized plans to develop a sustainable financial framework for Nigeria’s foreign missions.
This framework will incorporate innovative solutions and efficiency measures to ensure long-term operational stability, aligned with broader federal reforms aimed at improving fiscal governance and resource allocation.
“In the same vein, the ministry is also working diligently to develop a sustainable financial model for funding our missions abroad, which includes exploring innovative solutions and efficiency measures to ensure long-term operational stability,” Ebienfa explained.
The Ministry also thanked diplomatic staff, host governments, and service providers for their resilience during this challenging period, underscoring the administration’s commitment to protecting and supporting Nigerians abroad.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms Nigeria’s commitment to robust and dynamic international diplomacy, as well as the unwavering protection and welfare of every Nigerian citizen worldwide,” the statement concluded.
Experts note that financial instability in foreign missions has broader implications for Nigeria’s international image and effectiveness in global diplomacy.
Delays in payments and operational inefficiencies could undermine bilateral and multilateral engagements, affecting consular services for Nigerians living or traveling abroad.
Analysts recommend that the government accelerate the implementation of the sustainable financing model and explore public-private partnerships, revenue-generating activities at missions, and digital payment solutions to reduce dependency on federal budget allocations.
By taking decisive steps now, Nigeria can restore operational stability in its missions, ensure timely service delivery, and strengthen its diplomatic influence on the international stage.