FOUNDER and Executive Director of The Netherlands-based Hope for Niger Delta Campaign, HNDC, Mr Sunny Ofehe, says an alleged plan by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to shut down 80 foreign missions and embassies will bring disgrace to Nigeria if it happens.
“President Muhammadu Buhari understands the benefit of international shuttle diplomacy and that is why he travels around the world on state visits and international engagements to promote Nigerian exports and seek foreign investments in our economy”, Ofehe said.
“I will, therefore, appeal to Mr President to provide sufficient funds for the Foreign Ministry and see the ministry as a critical sector in the quest to build a stable economic nation that is respected in the comity of nations”.
The Nigerian-born environmental and human rights activist, who has travelled around the world campaigning on environmental degradation and human rights conditions of the people of his native Niger Delta, told Sunday Vanguard, “I am disturbed; the Nigerian Foreign Ministry presented a budget before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. The amount that was presented was cut by 60 per cent, which has led the Ministry to reach a decision to cut down Nigerian foreign missions and embassies from 110 to 30.
“This means that, if urgent steps are not taken, Nigeria will close down 80 foreign missions and embassies, and throw several families into unemployment. I have carefully followed the news, but I am shocked that nobody has seen the need to speak on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I have very close friends who have worked for this ministry for years and, through these people, I can feel their suffering even though they sacrifice daily to keep our foreign image positive.
“We have a President who travels and sees the situation of foreign missions and should not allow closure in his time. I think, as Nigerians, we must take decisive steps and I have started with a piece of my voice”.
He went on: “Nigeria has 110 foreign missions and embassies around the world; so, if you are shutting down 80 embassies and foreign missions, it, therefore, means that we are left with 30 foreign embassies. Nigeria is the most populous black nation in the world with a population of around 180 million people. Nigeria has a huge Diaspora population living within Africa, Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Caribbean and the Middle East.
