Dr. Yemi Farounbi, a former Nigerian ambassador to the Philippines, has called on President Bola Tinubu to take a more measured approach in appointing ambassadors, aiming to reduce the cost of governance.
In a recent interview, Farounbi emphasized the importance of moderation in the number of diplomatic appointments as part of a broader strategy to tackle Nigeria’s financial challenges.
Farounbi also advocated for the adoption of “smart embassies”—a concept that involves reducing the size of diplomatic missions, streamlining personnel, and cutting down on the overhead costs associated with embassies.
This strategy would help minimize expenses related to accommodation, office spaces, and support staff for diplomatic operations.
Nigeria currently operates 109 diplomatic missions worldwide, including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates.
Despite President Tinubu’s recall of both career and non-career ambassadors in September 2023, replacements have yet to be made more than 15 months later.
A report from PUNCH revealed that the delay is due to insufficient funds to cover the arrears of foreign service officials, address overhead backlogs, replace aging vehicles, and refurbish embassy buildings.
Sources indicate that nearly $1 billion is needed to resolve these issues.
Farounbi pointed out the inefficiencies caused by the lack of appointed ambassadors, noting that some missions have faced difficulties with overdue rent, utility bills, and even office space shortages.
This, he said, leads to a hampered performance of Nigeria’s diplomatic efforts abroad.
He proposed the idea of smart embassies, which operate with smaller teams and more efficient structures, saying, “Instead of an embassy with 30, 50, or 70 staff members, we could function with fewer than 10, which would allow us to manage costs better.”
Additionally, Farounbi suggested that Nigeria should consider permanent office spaces for embassies rather than renting and proposed appointing a single ambassador to oversee multiple countries where possible.
He cited the example of the Philippines ambassador to Nigeria, who also oversees 17 other countries, and recommended a similar model for Nigeria’s missions to reduce expenses.
Farounbi concluded by advising the government to prioritize embassies in countries that are critical to Nigeria’s national interests, stressing the need to eliminate unnecessary political appointments and streamline diplomatic efforts.
