Nigeria proposes over N41bn for renovation of foreign missions in 2026 budget

The Federal Government has proposed over N41 billion in the 2026 budget for the renovation and equipping of Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions worldwide.

The allocation is intended to cover the rehabilitation of chanceries, ambassadors’ residences, and staff quarters, as well as the procurement of office furniture and official vehicles. This represents a reduction from the N53 billion approved for similar purposes in the 2025 budget.

Notable allocations in the breakdown include N379 million for London, N391 million for New York, N376 million for Beijing, and N568 million for Banjul.

The proposal follows President Bola Tinubu’s reassessment of Nigeria’s foreign policy, which included recalling 83 ambassadors in 2023. The deployment of new envoys has been delayed due to funding constraints, though a batch of 64 recently confirmed ambassadors is expected to assume duty in 2026.