From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Presidential Committee on Number and Strategy for Resourcing Nigeria’s Diplomatic Missions Worldwide, has recommended that the federal government reduce the existing 110 diplomatic missions across the world to cut costs and strength efficiency of Nigeria’s missions abroad.
This was part of the 115 recommendations contained in the committee’s final report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, on Wednesday in his office in Abuja.
An official who made the disclosure on the condition of anonymity said the government was yet formally made its stance public.
Mustapha, while formally receiving the two-volume report, recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the constitution of the Presidential Committee, which he (SGF) inaugurated on 25th October, 2022 with clear Terms of Reference (ToR) as to what was required of the committee to holistically address the multifaceted challenges confronting our diplomatic missions around the world.
He expressed confidence that with the calibre of membership of the committee, their observations, findings and recommendations will address some of the major challenges confronting Nigeria’s Diplomatic Missions around the world.
“I can assure you that this report will be forwarded to Mr. President for his endorsement and subsequent implementation.
“I understand that you held not less than 32 plenary meetings, had interactions with about 18 relevant stakeholders, administered questionnaires to all the Nigeria’s diplomatic missions worldwide, reviewed some relevant previous reports including Federal Executive Council (FEC) memoranda, undertook on the spot assessment visits to some selected 21 diplomatic missions across Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, Middle East and North America, including Canada, in order to come up with this comprehensive report which contains 115 recommendations.
“I can also assure you that this report will also form part of the Transition document that will be handed over to the next administration as part of the successes of this present administration. So, this government will ensure that the content of this report is implemented in earnest,” Mustapha said.
Speaking earlier, the chairman of the committee, Martin Uhomoibhi, a Nigerian diplomat, recalled that at the inauguration of the committee in October 2022, the Federal Government clearly stated its intentions for a comprehensive repositioning of Nigeria’s diplomatic establishment in particular and the entire machinery of the Nigerian Foreign Service as a whole.
According to him, these intentions were expressed in nine robust terms of reference, cutting across the gamut of the operations of Nigerian diplomacy.
He said: “This final report, is the aftermath of long, painstaking and intense plenary sessions, strategic and purposeful engagement with relevant stakeholders in the Nigerian Foreign Service space, and our on-the-ground assessment of a good number of missions abroad.
“In the course of its assignment, the committee held 32 meetings at least two times every week and nonstop after its inauguration in plenary and several other times at the level of its sub-committees. The Committee received memoranda and held interactions with critical respondents.
“It also reviewed previous relevant Reports including those presented to the FEC. Questionnaires were designed and administered to all Nigeria’s Diplomatic Missions out of which 21 were physically visited, in 6 teams across Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, Middle East and North America including Canada.
“It is our earnest expectation that the findings and recommendations of this Committee be fully implemented for it is only then that the value of the work it has done will be appreciated,” he said.
Uhomoibhi, is the former President of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), from 19 June 2008 to 18 June 2009, also served as Permanent Secretary of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs apart from being appointed as Joint Special Representative for Darfur and Head of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) in 2015.