The Federal Government has acknowledged severe financial and operational difficulties across Nigeria’s embassies and consulates, citing budget shortfalls and recent foreign exchange reforms as the main drivers of the crisis.
In a statement on Monday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa confirmed that several missions abroad are struggling to function effectively, with mounting delays in paying salaries to locally recruited staff, allowances for home-based officers, and rent owed to landlords and service providers.
“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 said.
Officials noted that the difficulties reflect broader economic realities facing Nigeria and years of inadequate funding that have weakened the ability of diplomatic missions to carry out their responsibilities.
“It is pertinent to state, however, that the Nigerian diplomatic missions are not immune to the economic situation at home and its attendant challenges to government operations. The financial situation in our missions stems from budgetary limitations over the years, resulting in shortfalls in allocations,” the ministry added.
Despite the strain, the ministry assured Nigerians at home and abroad that the welfare of foreign service officers and their families remains a priority for President Bola Tinubu’s administration. According to the statement, special intervention funds have already been released to reduce the pressure, with more than 80 percent of available funds disbursed to cover salaries, arrears, and payments to service providers.
To ensure transparency, a verification committee was established to review the debt profiles of Nigerian missions abroad and confirm that payments were legitimate and equitably shared. The ministry also disclosed that it is working closely with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to recover shortfalls from the 2024 fiscal year, which were aggravated by exchange rate fluctuations tied to monetary policy reforms.
“To mitigate its impact, the government of President Bola Tinubu has graciously approved the settlement of the shortfall,” the ministry said, noting that the first tranche of payments had already been remitted, with some missions confirming receipt. A second tranche has been approved, with the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria coordinating the release of personnel and overhead funds this week.
Looking ahead, the ministry said it is developing a more sustainable financial framework for Nigeria’s foreign missions, aligned with broader fiscal reforms intended to improve governance and ensure efficient resource allocation.
“These efforts are integral to the wider public sector financial reforms being implemented by the Federal Government, designed to enhance fiscal governance and ensure effective allocation of resources,” the statement said.
The ministry thanked diplomatic staff, host governments, and service providers for their patience and cooperation during the crisis, expressing optimism that the difficulties would soon be resolved.
“We are confident that the current challenges are temporary and will be overcome through the concerted efforts of this administration. 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,” it stated.
