At least 34 diplomatic missions in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, risk being shut down by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) due to failure to pay statutory ground rents, some dating back as far as 2014.
The FCTA recently published a list of defaulting embassies, revealing a total debt of over ₦3.6 million in unpaid ground rents. While some Nigerian institutions previously listed such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have reportedly cleared their arrears, the embassies are now under scrutiny.
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, earlier in May ordered enforcement actions on thousands of properties with unpaid rent, prompting the revocation of over 4,700 property titles. However, President Bola Tinubu intervened and granted a two-week grace period, ending today, Monday, for all affected parties to settle their debts.
FCTA’s Director of Land, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, noted that defaulters will incur penalties ranging between ₦2 million and ₦3 million based on property location.
Among the embassies named are:
* *Ghana High Commission Defence Section (₦5,950)*
* *Thailand (₦5,350)*
* *Côte d’Ivoire (₦5,500)*
* *Russia (₦1,100)*
* *Philippines (₦5,950)*
* *Netherlands (₦5,950)*
* *Turkey (₦3,350)*
* *Republic of Guinea (₦5,950)*
Other missions include those of Ireland, Uganda, Iraq, Zambia (₦1.18 million), Tanzania, Germany, DRC, Venezuela (₦459,055), Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, Egypt, Chad, India, Sudan, Niger, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Indonesia’s Defence Attaché (₦1.7 million), the EU Delegation, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, China’s Economic Office (₦12,000), and Equatorial Guinea (₦1.1 million).
However, several embassies have challenged the listing. The Russian Embassy firmly denied any outstanding debts, affirming that all obligations had been met and documented. Turkey’s embassy also questioned its inclusion, hinting at a possible administrative error and promising to investigate.
Germany’s diplomatic mission stated it had not received any formal notification from the FCTA and confirmed that all rents were paid up to the end of 2024. The Embassy of Ghana noted it had not been officially informed and would contact the Foreign Ministry to resolve the matter. Similarly, the Sierra Leone Embassy said it would verify the claims internally.
Reacting to the denials, the FCT minister’s spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, said such discrepancies would be investigated, noting that payments made through platforms like Remita may not yet be reflected until receipts are submitted.
Some experts have warned that enforcement must be handled delicately. Former Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, referenced the 1961 Vienna Convention, which grants diplomatic properties inviolability, though it does not exempt them from adhering to local regulations. He urged that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs resolve the issue through bilateral diplomacy.
Foreign affairs analyst Charles Onunaiju echoed this view, warning that any aggressive enforcement like sealing embassies would be a breach of international diplomatic protocol and could spark diplomatic fallout.
Meanwhile, the PDP has reportedly settled its dues as of Friday, while the FIRS and NAPTIP have also resolved their disputes with the FCTA after their offices were previously sealed. FIRS maintained it had paid over ₦2.3 million in ground rent three months after receiving a demand notice and demanded an apology for the earlier sealing of its office.
As the deadline for compliance ends today, it remains to be seen whether the affected embassies will act swiftly to avoid potential sanctions or diplomatic tensions.
