Abuja Liaison Officer / Protocol & Administrative Assistant

FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company|Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria|Full-time|Mid-Senior level

A highly professional and discreet individual to serve as the Abuja Liaison Officer, combining the roles of Protocol Officer and Administrative Assistant for the Abuja office. This dual-function position requires a unique individual with a strong background in governmental or security services (such as the Department of State Services (DSS) or similar) as well as experience working within the private sector or industry.

The ideal candidate is someone who understands both the formality of government systems and the agility of corporate operations — someone with excellent organizational skills, strong discretion, and proven ability to navigate both public and private networks effectively.

Key Responsibilities

1. Protocol & Executive Support

  • Manage all Abuja-related protocol and logistics for staff visits, including transport, accommodation, security coordination, and meeting scheduling
  • Liaise with government ministries, parastatals, embassies, and other key agencies to organize and facilitate official engagements
  • Provide background research, talking points, and strategic insights to support staff participation in meetings and events
  • Ensure complete discretion, professionalism, and alignment with the company's image and expectations in all protocol-related activities
  • Government Relations & Liaison Duties:
  • Serve as the company's discreet point of contact with government officials and agencies based in Abuja
  • Track and monitor policy, legislative, and regulatory developments that may impact the company's operations and provide timely briefs to management
  • Represent the company at select official engagements, ensuring follow-up and effective communication of outcomes
  • Office Administration (Abuja Office):
  • Oversee administrative and logistical operations of the Abuja office, including supplies, vendor management, maintenance, and support to visiting staff
  • Coordinate meetings and ensure the Abuja office provides a professional and secure base for company operations in the capital

Requirements

  • Minimum of 8 years of professional experience, with a blend of:
  • Service in a governmental agency such as the Department of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency, or any other protocol/security-focused government entity
  • Private sector experience, preferably in an administrative, corporate affairs, security coordination, or protocol support role
  • A Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Public Administration, Business Administration, International Relations, or a related field. A postgraduate degree is an added advantage
  • Demonstrated ability to work discreetly and effectively in both public and private sector environments
  • Strong communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills
  • Sound judgment, high emotional intelligence, and the ability to operate independently
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools and general office management systems

Preferred Attributes:

  • Abuja-based and highly familiar with Abuja's governmental, diplomatic, and corporate environment
  • Strategic thinker with excellent follow-through and attention to detail
  • Proactive, calm under pressure, and capable of managing multiple responsibilities
  • Strong professional presence and service mindset

AI Sourcing Intelligence

Sourcing Advice for This Role

AI-powered analysis of recruitment difficulty and recommended sourcing channels for this position.

Recruitment Difficulty Analysis

Key challenge: Filling this role demands a rare blend of governmental/protocol background and private-sector admin/liaison experience, all based in Abuja with a proven track record in discreet, high-stakes engagements. The talent pool in Nigeria for individuals who have served in agencies like DSS/NIA and also operated in corporate affairs is very small, and the Abuja location narrows geographic availability further; this will require targeted outreach and longer lead times.

Recommended Sourcing Channels

LinkedIn Search (Boolean)

Supplementary

Boolean search broadens reach to passive candidates and those with related but non-obvious titles.

Recommended Boolean query:
(Liaison OR Protocol OR Administrative) AND Officer AND Abuja AND Nigeria(government OR agency OR protocol) AND (security OR coordination) AND (diplomacy OR discreet) AND Abuja AND Nigeria(Senior OR Mid OR Manager) AND (Liaison OR Protocol) AND (Private OR Corporate) AND Abuja

Suggested Search Criteria

Job Titles to Search
Abuja Liaison OfficerProtocol OfficerAdministrative Assistant AbujaGovernment Relations OfficerCorporate Affairs Executive Abuja
Key Skills
Government RelationsProtocol ManagementExecutive SupportSecurity CoordinationOffice Administration
Location Radius
Focus search within Abuja and immediate surroundings (within 100 km). Consider candidates in Lagos or other major cities who are willing to relocate to Abuja for this role and have strong Abuja networks.
Experience Level
8-15 years Prioritize candidates with combined government/protocol and private-sector experience, ideally with exposure to high-security or sensitive engagements; emphasize discretion, stakeholder management, and executive support in Abuja.

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