The Federal Government of Nigeria has disbursed approximately ₦14 billion to 16 foreign missions in July 2024, amidst significant delays in appointing new ambassadors.
Nigeria has been without official diplomatic representatives since September 2023, when President Bola Tinubu recalled all career and non-career ambassadors appointed by his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, attributed the delay to financial and economic challenges, stating that the ministry has not received necessary funding to operate effectively. He emphasized that appointing ambassadors without financial resources to support their travel and run missions abroad would be futile.
However, checks by The PUNCH showed that the government disbursed ₦13.7bn for personnel costs of 16 foreign missions. The funds were wired through the FGN Treasury (TSA Settlement Centre) on July 19 and 29, 2024.
A former Nigerian ambassador, Ogbole Ode, said that despite the paucity of funds, heads of missions at the consulate level had been deployed. He noted that the free fall of the Nigerian currency often increased the naira value of the funds disbursed to overseas missions.
Ode stated, “In the Foreign Service accounting system, there are different subheads, one of which are for personnel… the free fall of the Nigerian currency often increases the naira value of the funds the government disburses to the overseas missions.”
