The Federal Government has confirmed that Nigeria’s embassies and consulates across the world are grappling with financial and operational setbacks tied to limited funding and recent shifts in foreign exchange policies.
A statement issued on Monday, the 1st of September, 2025, by Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, outlined the scale of the problem and how it has disrupted the day-to-day running of several missions.
According to the ministry, the situation has led to delays in the settlement of critical obligations such as rent, salaries of local employees, payments to service providers, and 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 said.
The ministry explained that these difficulties reflect Nigeria’s broader economic climate.9 Years of underfunding have weakened the capacity of missions to carry out core diplomatic 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 these constraints, the government emphasized that the welfare of its diplomatic officers and their families remains central to President Bola Tinubu’s foreign policy direction.
“The government is taking decisive and concrete steps to address the issues of fund allocation to all its missions abroad,” the statement said. It revealed that special intervention funds have already been released, with more than 80 percent of available resources disbursed to clear arrears and cover salaries, allowances, and debts owed to service providers.
To ensure accountability, a verification team was set up to examine outstanding obligations at the missions and confirm that only genuine claims are settled.
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The ministry also disclosed that it was working closely with the Office of the Accountant-General to retrieve funding gaps from the 2024 budget year, which had been distorted by currency fluctuations linked to monetary reforms.
“To mitigate its impact, the government of President Bola Tinubu has graciously approved the settlement of the shortfall,” it said, adding that the first tranche of payments had already reached the missions, while the second batch had been approved for release in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Beyond immediate interventions, the ministry announced plans to establish a stronger financial framework for Nigeria’s foreign missions that ties into the administration’s larger fiscal reforms.
“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 noted.
While acknowledging the strain on staff and partners, the ministry expressed gratitude for the understanding shown by mission employees, service providers, and host countries during this period.
“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.