More than 30 foreign embassies, including Ghana’s High Commission in Abuja, face possible closure as the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) begins enforcement action over unpaid ground rent.
According to the FCTA, the affected embassies have accumulated arrears dating as far back as 2014, amounting to a total of N3.66 million.
Despite several warnings, the diplomatic missions have reportedly failed to settle their debts, prompting the administration to act.
President Bola Tinubu has issued a 14-day ultimatum for all defaulters to clear their outstanding payments or risk sanctions, including the possible sealing of embassy premises.
Embassies named on the defaulters’ list include Ghana, Russia, Thailand, Côte d’Ivoire, the Philippines, Netherlands, Turkey, Guinea, Ireland, Uganda, Iraq, Zambia, Germany, Venezuela, South Korea, India, Sudan, Niger, and Kenya, among others.
However, some missions, including the Russian and German embassies, have denied owing any rent. They maintained that all required payments have been made and suggest that their inclusion may be the result of administrative errors. Diplomatic officials from Turkey, Germany, and Ghana also expressed surprise at their inclusion and indicated they had not received any official notice regarding outstanding obligations. They have pledged to review the matter internally.
In response, a spokesperson for the FCT Minister stated that the administration would investigate and correct any discrepancies if proven.
Meanwhile, diplomatic experts have urged caution. Former Nigerian ambassador Ogbole Amedu-Ode and foreign policy analyst Charles Onunaiju cautioned that sealing embassies could have serious diplomatic repercussions. They recommended resolving the issue through bilateral dialogue and coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Source: The Punch
