The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has admitted that Nigeria’s diplomatic and consular missions are facing financial and operational constraints but assured that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is taking concrete steps to resolve the situation.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa acknowledged that several missions have been struggling with unpaid staff salaries, debts to service providers, rent arrears, and allowances owed to officers.
“The Nigerian Diplomatic Missions are not immune to the economic situation at home,” the Ministry noted, explaining that years of budget shortfalls have significantly affected the effective functioning of embassies and consulates worldwide.
To address the crisis, the Federal Government has approved special intervention funds, which have already been released to several missions. According to the Ministry, over 80 per cent of verified debts have been cleared, prioritising payments to service providers, locally recruited staff, and officers’ arrears.
The government has also secured presidential approval to settle funding gaps created by exchange rate harmonisation. The first tranche of refunds has been remitted to missions, with additional funds expected this week. Officials said second semester allocations have been approved and are being processed in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Looking ahead, the Ministry disclosed plans to develop a sustainable financial model for funding Nigeria’s overseas missions as part of broader public sector financial reforms.
It commended Nigerian diplomats for their resilience and thanked host governments and service providers for their cooperation during the crisis.
“We are confident that the current challenges are temporary and will be overcome through the concerted efforts of this administration,” the Ministry stated, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad and strengthening international diplomacy.
