Embassy Shutdown Looms! 34 Foreign Missions Face Eviction Over ₦5.86 Billion Debt — FCTA Blows Hot

At least 34 embassies in Abuja may face closure by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) due to non-payment of ground rent spanning over a decade.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to a report obtained by The Punch, the FCTA published a list of defaulting diplomatic missions, citing a combined debt of ₦3,662,196 in land use charges dating back to 2014.

On May 26, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike ordered enforcement action on 4,794 properties over unpaid ground rents, with some arrears accumulating for as long as 43 years. However, following growing concerns, President Bola Tinubu intervened and granted a 14-day grace period, which expires today (Monday), for debtors to settle their obligations.

FCTA Director of Lands, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, stated that defaulters who fail to comply by the deadline will incur penalty charges ranging from ₦2 million to ₦3 million, depending on the location of the affected property within the FCT.

Embassies listed include:

• Ghana High Commission Defence Section – ₦5,950

• Embassy of Thailand – ₦5,350

• Embassy of Côte d’Ivoire – ₦5,500

• Russian Federation – ₦1,100

• Philippines – ₦5,950

• Royal Netherlands Embassy – ₦5,950

• Turkey – ₦3,350

• Republic of Guinea – ₦5,950

• Ireland – ₦500

• Uganda – ₦5,950

• Iraq – ₦550

• Zambia High Commission – ₦1,189,990

• Tanzania High Commission – ₦6,000

• German Embassy – ₦1,000

• DR Congo – ₦5,950

• Venezuela – ₦459,055

• Republic of Korea – ₦5,950

• Trinidad and Tobago – ₦500

• Egypt – ₦5,950

• Chad – ₦5,950

• Sierra Leone – ₦5,900

• India – ₦150

• Sudan – ₦5,950

• Niger Republic – ₦500

• Kenya – ₦5,950

• Zimbabwe – ₦500

• Ethiopia – ₦5,950

• Indonesia (Defence Attaché) – ₦1,718,211

• European Union Delegation – ₦1,500

• Switzerland – ₦5,950

• Saudi Arabia – ₦5,950

• China (Economic & Commercial Office) – ₦12,000

• South Africa – ₦4,950

• Equatorial Guinea – ₦1,137,240

In response, the Russian Embassy denied any outstanding debt, affirming it has paid all land-related bills and possesses documentation to prove it.

The Embassy of Turkiye also questioned its inclusion, suggesting a possible bureaucratic mix-up. A Turkish official said, “We make our payments on time. We will verify and resolve any confusion if needed.”

Similarly, the German Embassy clarified it had not received any formal notification from the FCTA regarding unpaid rent. “All official obligations related to our premises were fully settled as of the end of 2024,” it stated, emphasizing its commitment to transparency and diplomatic cooperation.

The Ghana High Commission acknowledged seeing the publication but said it had not been officially contacted. It pledged to consult with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the matter.

An official at the Sierra Leone Embassy said they were unaware of the debt and would follow up upon returning to the office.

Reacting to the embassies’ denials, Lere Olayinka, spokesperson for the FCT Minister, assured that all claims would be thoroughly investigated and appropriate measures taken.

Former Nigerian ambassador to Mexico, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, urged caution, citing the Vienna Convention of 1961, which protects the inviolability of diplomatic premises. However, he noted that diplomatic missions must still adhere to local laws, especially regarding property ownership.

He recommended that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs manage the issue through bilateral dialogue, adding, “Each case should be handled diplomatically and based on reciprocity.”