Business and Economy
Reps Committee Summons Foreign Affairs Minister, Envoys Over Missions’ Fund Utilisation …Commends President Tinubu for 2025 Financial Interventions
The House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs has summoned the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, alongside Heads of Nigeria’s foreign missions, to appear before it over the utilisation of funds appropriated to the missions in 2025.
The Committee, in a letter dated July 24, 2025, and signed by its Chairman, Hon.
For several years, Nigeria’s foreign missions have struggled with inadequate funding, resulting in poor consular services to Nigerians abroad and recurring allegations of corruption among mission officials.
Earlier in 2025, the Oke-led Committee launched an investigation into an alleged contract scandal involving the mismanagement of $2 million earmarked for the renovation of the residence of Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.
The Committee’s letter read in part:
“The Missions are required to furnish the following documents: approved budgets of the missions from 2024–2025; budget performance reports for the same period; records of special interventions released to the missions and their applications between 2018–2025; and staff nominal rolls for both home and local staff.
“The Honourable Minister is kindly requested to bring the content of this letter to all Heads of Missions.”
In a related development, another letter dated July 3, 2025, and signed by the Director of Funds on behalf of the Accountant General of the Federation, disclosed that the Bola Tinubu administration released a total of $54 million to fund the operations of Nigeria’s 103 Embassies and High Commissions.
Out of the amount, $46.14 million was allocated for overhead costs, $9.58 million for personnel expenses, and $282,829 for other overhead items.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Hon. Oke commended President Tinubu for his financial intervention, noting that it would revitalize the country’s foreign missions and improve Nigeria’s global image.
“We commend the President for intervening and appreciate his commitment to reviving our missions. His action in 2025 will go a long way in enhancing Nigeria’s international reputation,” Oke said.
He also urged the Minister and Heads of Missions to appear before the Committee and present detailed reports on how the funds were spent, emphasizing that transparency and accountability are vital for good governance.
A breakdown of the disbursement showed that the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs received $5.89 million; the Embassy of Nigeria in Moscow got $1.96 million; Rome, Italy received $2.82 million; Vienna $1.09 million; and Athens $1.04 million.
Others include the Embassy of Nigeria in Tel Aviv ($1.8 million), Addis Ababa ($1.92 million), Consulate General of Nigeria in Jeddah ($1.48 million), Dubai ($1.26 million), Madrid ($1.23 million), and Tehran/Abu Dhabi ($1.18 million), among others.
Hon. Oke clarified that the Committee’s intention is not to witch-hunt anyone but to ensure that governance serves the interest of Nigeria and its citizens.