President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed worry over the deplorable state of the offices and residences of Nigerian ambassadors to some countries around the globe.
Jonathan, stated this yesterday while laying the foundation stone of the new building for the resident of Nigerian Ambassador in Sao Tome and Principe, noted that both the residents of ambassadors, High Commissioners and officials and even their offices must be befitting.
Jonathan said, ”you see Nigeria Embassies sharing wall with other countries but our own will look a bit un-kept. You cannot blame the Ambassadors, their staff for the problem of funding. We are always having challenges in the way we do our budget but we are changing things now and we want to make sure that Nigerian Embassies will reflect the new thinking of government and what we want them to look like”.
A statement by his spokesperson, Dr. Reuben Abati, hinted that the Nigerian president had joined other African Heads of States and governments to graced the inauguration of the new President of Sao Tome and Principe, President Manuel Pinto Da Costa who took over from former President Fradique De Menezes.
The President, added that he was concerned about the status of Nigeria Missions and Embassies abroad and promised to ensure that all such embassies, High Commissions and Diplomatic Missions are given face lifts in line with the current thinking of government.
Jonathan said, “We are quite happy that we are building this today.
We will renovate all our facilities outside the country so that Nigerian will be proud of them. “Today I am quite happy playing a key role laying the foundation stone for the building of the Ambassador’s residence in Sao Tome and Principe. One thing that has been disturbing me since I came on board as Vice President and President, is that both the Offices and Residents of our Ambassadors in most countries are not quite impressive, some are very beautiful buildings, but lacked maintenance because of lack of funds. That is one of the reasons while when the Foreign Affairs Ministry wanted to upgrade some of our missions to full status of Embassies, I said no, we must first upgrade the facilities we have
in our existing Embassies before we talk about upgrading our Missions”
The President directed the contractors handling the job to ensure that the job is finished within the 18 months that have been allocated to it”.
He commended Nigerians resident in the Republic of Sao Tome and Principe for putting up exemplary behaviour that has created favourable disposition for Nigerian investors in that country.
He noted that such exemplary behavour by Nigerians was not only commendable, but worthy of emulation by other Nigerians living in or visiting foreign countries.