- Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar attributed the delay in appointing ambassadors to significant financial constraints facing Nigeria’s administration
- Tuggar assured that President Tinubu is addressing the funding issues, which have hindered the effective operation of foreign missions
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, has attributed the delay in appointing ambassadors for Nigeria to a lack of funds. Speaking during the ministerial sectoral briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, Tuggar highlighted the significant financial and economic challenges facing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
On September 2, 2023, President Tinubu recalled all career and non-career ambassadors from Nigeria’s diplomatic missions, embassies, and consulates worldwide. This recall has sparked concerns about Nigeria’s diplomatic representation and the effectiveness of its foreign missions.
Tuggar explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not received the necessary funding to operate effectively. He stated, “We met a situation where Foreign Affairs was not funded like it should be. It is a money problem. There is no point in sending out ambassadors if you do not have the funds for them to travel to their designated country and to run the missions effectively.”
Despite these financial hurdles, Tuggar assured the government is addressing the issue. “Mr. President is working on it, and it will be done in due course,” he said.
The lack of ambassadors has raised concerns about Nigeria’s diplomatic presence and the operational effectiveness of its foreign missions. However, Tuggar’s comments indicate that financial constraints are the primary reason for the appointment delay, and efforts are underway to resolve these issues.