Reps Condemn Current State Of NIIA, Describes It As Unacceptable

The House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs has condemned the current state of utter neglect and dilapidated infrastructures at the Nigerian Institute for Foreign Affairs (NIIA).

Speaking during an oversight visit to the institute, the Committee Chairman, Hon. Wole Oke, declared that the state of the institute is unacceptable, regrettable and reprehensible.

The Committee saw the famous sought-after NIIA Conference Hall, now rejected by clients for lack of basic amenities, an archaic abandoned printing press capable of serving their catchment community profitably if revamped, a dilapidated and unsafe senior staff quarters, and a huge library of great books with little patronage.

The lawmakers were struck with dismay at what they saw and heard, regarding what used to be the premier foreign policy academy for Nigeria and Africa, the African version of the London Chatham House.

The Committee members were unanimous that the place is now a poor shell of its former stature, arguing that for a Think Tank of that pedigree to sink into such misery, responsibilities were abandoned, laws broken, and fidelity to core mandates neglected.

They, therefore, agreed in unison that the place demands and deserves urgent intensive care attention for speedy recovery and rehabilitation.

The Committee Chairman said: “We must be deliberate in prioritising the legacy status of this monument as the cornerstone of not just Nigeria, but as Africa’s foreign policies incubator, integrity, and sustainability.”

Oke, therefore, promised that they will rally all that is necessary and follow up on every step constitutional, to help return life to the Institute’s critical infrastructure, and crying human resource depletion.

Earlier, the Director General of the Institute, Prof Eghosa Osaghae, thanked the lawmakers for their kind visit and deeply reflective engagements.

Osaghae said: “As the true representatives of the people, and protector of their institutions, seeing is believing and to us the host, your visit is so strategic for life support.”

“I plead with you to help recover and return our properties in Abuja forcibly appropriated and kept by other agencies of the Federal Government.”