Over 30 foreign diplomatic missions in Abuja are now in danger of being sealed off by Nigerian authorities, following the expiration of a 14-day grace period granted to settle alleged ground rent debts dating back more than a decade.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) claims the affected embassies, including those of Germany, Ghana, Russia, and Thailand, have not paid land usage charges amounting to N3,662,196 since 2014. The charges stem from “ground rent,” an annual fee tied to land occupancy within the capital.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike had on May 26 directed the enforcement of action against 4,794 property owners owing between 10 to 43 years of rent. Tinubu, however, waded in, instructing a two-week extension for the debts to be cleared. That grace period ended Monday, leaving the embassies at risk of sanctions.
The FCTA’s Director of Lands, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, disclosed that erring property owners could now face fines between N2 million and N3 million, depending on location.
Among the accused missions are embassies from Ireland (N500), Turkey (N3,350), Uganda (N5,950), South Africa, China, India, Kenya, and Switzerland. Notably, the Venezuela Embassy tops the list with a debt of N459,055. Others with substantial arrears include the Zambian High Commission (N1,189,990), Indonesia’s Defence Attaché (N1,718,211), and Equatorial Guinea (N1,137,240).
However, several of these embassies are rejecting the allegations outright, calling the FCTA’s claims misleading, inaccurate, or outright false. “The Embassy pays all bills for the rent of the territory on which the Embassy complex is located in good faith and on time. The Embassy also has all the necessary documents confirming payment,” the Russian mission said.
A Turkish official told journalists, “We have not received a formal notification about the debt. We regularly make our payments on time, and we will check if we are on the list because of a bureaucratic mistake or a misunderstanding, and will fix the issue as soon as possible.”
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The German Embassy was equally dismissive, stating, “We understand that you are referring to reports suggesting that the German Embassy in Abuja has outstanding rent obligations. We would like to clarify that no such claim or demand has been formally brought to our attention by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.”
The statement continued, “Moreover, we can confirm that all official financial obligations relating to the Embassy’s premises have been fully settled as of the end of 2024. There are no known outstanding payments.”
The Ghanaian High Commission also pushed back, saying, “The High Commission has noted the publication, but has not been officially communicated to. We will liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this matter.”
This is not the first time that rent disputes have stirred up controversy in Abuja. In May, several Nigerian institutions were publicly listed as defaulters, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and the anti-trafficking agency NAPTIP. All three organisations have since reportedly settled their dues.
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A PDP source told The Punch, “The PDP has resolved all issues with Wike regarding the ground rent. Action was taken on Friday to make the payment, so there is no longer any problem.”
The FIRS, whose premises were sealed over unpaid rent, later denied it owed anything before resolving the dispute. Likewise, a NAPTIP source confirmed, “It’s been resolved.”
Still, the implications of Wike’s sweeping clampdown, endorsed at the highest levels of Tinubu’s administration, may damage diplomatic ties if not handled with greater transparency. Critics say the lack of prior formal notifications, poor communication, and conflicting information from government authorities point to deeper issues within the FCTA’s record-keeping and enforcement system.
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