FG confirms financial crisis in Nigerian Embassies, promises reforms

The Federal Government has admitted that several Nigerian diplomatic and consular missions abroad are facing severe financial and operational challenges, including unpaid staff salaries, mounting debts to landlords, and arrears owed to service providers.

Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, revealed this in a statement on Monday, noting that budgetary constraints over the years have crippled the smooth operations of embassies and consulates.

“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.

Ebienfa stressed that the financial struggles of missions abroad reflect Nigeria’s economic realities, with allocations falling short for years. However, he assured Nigerians at home and abroad that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is prioritising the welfare of diplomatic staff and their families.

He highlighted steps taken to address the crisis, including special intervention funds, payment of over 80 per cent of verified debts, and the approval of the second tranche of allocations for embassies. The ministry also confirmed that efforts are underway to create a sustainable funding model for missions abroad.

Despite the challenges, the government commended Nigerian diplomats for their dedication and expressed confidence that the situation would stabilise with ongoing financial reforms.