By Yahaya Umar
Federal Government has allocated a total sum of N2.83 billion to the payment of electricity charges of 109 Nigerian embassies, consulates, and High commissions in various countries.
This is based on the summation of the proposed electricity charges of all Foreign Missions in the 2025 budget.
The 2025 Appropriation Bill, submitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, contains the budgets of 109 foreign missions under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They comprise 76 Embassies, 22 High Commissions, and 11 Consulates.
All 109 Foreign Missions budgeted a total of N2,837,016,127 for electricity charges as part of their annual overhead expenditure.
The Foreign Missions with the highest budget for electricity charges include those in New York ,permanent mission, London, and Harare with N304.9 million, N113.9 million, and N91 million respectively.
The Foreign Missions with the lowest budget for electricity charges are those in Ouagadougou, Cairo, Islamabad, and Doha with N6.2 million, N6.6 million, N7.9 million, and N7.94 million respectively.
Nigeria’s Foreign Missions have suffered from poor or delayed funding over the years, resulting in poor representation of Nigerians overseas or embarrassing disputes with host countries. There are instances where countries publicly call out Nigeria’s Foreign Missions over utility debts.
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, once lamented about poor overhead budgetary provisions to Nigerian missions abroad, admitting that many of them swam in debt and were unable to pay utility bills and rent.
Last year, that the South African government disconnected the electricity of the Nigerian consulate in Johannesburg over unpaid bills. The consulate which should be regarded as a Nigerian territory was thrown into darkness, a reality of many citizens at home.
Meanwhile, 16 months after he assumed office, President Bola Tinubu has failed to employ Ambassadors and High Commissioners for Nigeria’s Foreign Missions, putting diplomatic ties and representation of diasporans on the line.
The President recalled all Ambassadors and High Commissioners in September 2023 sparing only the country’s Permanent Representatives at the United Nations in New York and Geneva.
In what seemed like a move to fill vacuums, the President, in April 2024, appointed 12 Consuls-General and five charges d’affaires in 14 countries. However, they rank lower than resident Ambassadors and High Commissioners, and may not be able to hold diplomatic engagements at the highest levels in the countries they were deployed to.
The current Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar justified the administration’s refusal to appoint Ambassadors and High Commissioners on the premise that the government is focused on addressing the troubling economic challenges that affect citizens at home.
He further argued that Nigeria’s Foreign Missions had not been adequately funded and it was important to ensure funds are made available for High Commissioners and Ambassadors before they are appointed.
“We met a situation where Foreign Affairs was not being funded like the way it should be. Some loopholes are exploited by the likes of Binance. It is a money problem. There is no point sending out ambassadors if you do not have the funds for them to even travel to their designated country and to run the missions effectively, one needs funding”, he said.
The absence of Nigeria’s high-ranking diplomatic representatives in other countries exposes citizens in those countries to a lack of representation or at worse human rights violations in the host countries.
Many Nigerians have taken to social media to complain of poor treatment or unprofessional services at Nigerian embassies when they go for services such as renewal of International passports. Some of these challenges are attributed to poor funding as some embassies and consulates have been seen to be understaffed
Abuja Steel Company Denies Involved In Purchase Of Stolen Manholes
By Blessing Gabriel
Management of Abuja Steel Company has refuted allegations linking the organisation to purchasing and smelting stolen manhole covers.
Yesterday, a statement signed by the Abuja Steel Mills Ltd. Spokesman, Chethan Kumar, denied the claims and insinuations that the company is involved in such activities, calling them false and misleading.
Recall that on Monday, operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command arrested 50 suspects for allegedly stealing streetlights and manhole covers, among others.
The arrest followed the vandalism of sewage manhole covers along critical road corridors in the capital city, with the company indicted as an accomplice.
The spokesperson clarified that the company operates solely on a large-scale industrial framework and does not engage in small-scale business negotiations or transactions with individuals or unauthorised agents.
He said the allegations are entirely baseless and inconsistent with its core values and established operational principles.
The statement reads, “Abuja Steel Company is a responsible, tax-paying organization committed to ethical and transparent business practices, strict adherence to industry regulations, with no history of involvement in shady or illegal activities.
“The Abuja Steel Company operates on a large-scale industrial framework and does not engage in small-scale business negotiations or transactions with individuals or unauthorized agents, and the claims or insinuations that the company deals in such activities are false and misleading.
“We are a world-class company and part of a group of companies that is the largest steel producer in Nigeria. We are the only steel manufacturing group that is fully integrated with an iron-ore mining and processing factory at Gujeni, Kaduna State. As such we are already moving away from scrap metals to direct reduced iron-ore from our sister company, African Natural Resources and Mines Limited”.
The statement also disclosed that a thorough investigation has been initiated into the matter to uphold its reputation and ensure accountability.
“Abuja Steel Company is fully committed and will cooperate with law enforcement agencies to uncover the truth and bring those responsible for the theft and vandalism of public infrastructure to justice, and expressed confidence that ongoing investigations will exonerate the company from the accusations.
“The company urges the Nigerian public and its valued customers to disregard the allegations, stating that it perceives them as an attempt by some vested interests to malign its hard-earned reputation.
“Our company prides itself on being a cornerstone of responsible industrial practices in the Federal Capital Territory and beyond. We stand resolutely against all forms of vandalism and theft that endanger public infrastructure and safety and remain dedicated to contributing positively to Nigeria’s economic development and maintaining public trust”, the statement concluded.
