The Minister of Trade, Industry, and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, has provided clarification regarding the N1.6 billion allocated in the ministry’s 2024 budget proposal. She emphasized that this fund is designated for Nigeria’s trade office situated in Geneva, Switzerland, and not for overseas trips as perceived earlier.
As reported by MUK TV on Wednesday, Uzoka-Anite faced scrutiny during her appearance before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Trade and Investment on Tuesday, where the budget was being defended.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, a committee member representing Edo North, raised concerns over a budget provision of over N1 billion purportedly meant for a single trip to Geneva.
Expressing his reservations, Oshiomhole stated, “I see that you intend to travel to Geneva next year and you have budgeted over one billion for that. We cannot keep going on with over-bloated teams on foreign trips.”
Responding to the allegations, Toluwase Moyan, media aide to the minister, quoted Uzoka-Anite, asserting that no such allocation for a “Foreign Trip to Geneva” exists in the proposed budget.
Moyan’s statement clarified, “We wish to categorically state that there is no line item in the proposed budget of the federal ministry of industry, trade, and investment referring to ANY ‘Foreign Trip to Geneva’.”
Providing a detailed breakdown, the statement elaborated on the allocation for Nigeria’s Trade Office in Geneva, totaling N1,610,183,599, segmented into Personnel Cost, Overhead, and Capital expenses.
Uzoka-Anite defended the allocation, highlighting the necessity for Nigeria to sustain an office in Geneva, particularly for representing and safeguarding the country’s interests in multilateral trade matters on the global stage.
She further elucidated that a substantial portion of the allocated funds is intended to service Nigeria’s outstanding debts in Geneva and maintain the nation’s reputation and standing internationally.
The minister emphasized her ministry’s commitment to financial prudence and accountability in its operations.
