No fewer than 34 foreign embassies in Abuja are at risk of having their premises sealed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over unpaid ground rent arrears dating back 11 years, officials have confirmed.
This follows a recent publication by the FCTA revealing that several diplomatic missions, along with some government agencies, have failed to settle their ground rent obligations since 2014, collectively owing N3.66 million. The list of defaulters includes high-profile embassies such as those of Ghana, Russia, Germany, Turkey, and Egypt.
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had on May 26, ordered the enforcement of revocation notices on 4,794 properties for defaulting on ground rent payments spanning 10 to 43 years. However, President Bola Tinubu intervened, granting a 14-day grace period set to expire Monday.
Embassies React, Deny Debts
The publication sparked swift reactions from several missions. The Russian Embassy firmly denied owing any outstanding ground rent, stating it consistently pays all its dues and possesses proof of payment.
Similarly, the German Embassy said no formal demand for unpaid rent had been made by the FCTA, confirming that all obligations had been cleared as of the end of 2024. The Turkish Embassy also expressed surprise at its inclusion, attributing it to a possible bureaucratic error.
“The Embassy pays all bills in good faith and on time. We have all necessary documents confirming payment,” the Russian mission stated.
A spokesperson for the High Commission of Ghana acknowledged seeing the publication but said the mission had not been officially notified. The embassy plans to liaise with the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resolve the matter.
Other missions, including those of Sierra Leone and South Africa, indicated they were unaware of the issue and would verify their status with the FCTA.
FCTA, Analysts Weigh In
Reacting to claims of errors, the FCT Minister’s spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, assured that all such allegations would be investigated and appropriate actions taken.
Diplomatic experts, however, cautioned against hasty enforcement. Former Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, cited the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which grants inviolability to diplomatic premises but also requires missions to comply with local laws.
“This is a sensitive matter that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should handle through bilateral engagements,” he advised.
A foreign affairs analyst, Charles Onunaiju, questioned the legality of enforcing ground rent obligations on diplomatic missions, warning it could spark diplomatic tensions. “Such actions would be a breach of diplomatic protocol,” he noted.
Government Agencies Settle Debts Amid Tensions
Meanwhile, agencies like the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), initially listed among defaulters, have since cleared their outstanding dues.
The FIRS had earlier disputed its inclusion and demanded a public apology after one of its offices was sealed by the FCTA in May. However, records later confirmed that the agency had paid the N2.36 million rent demanded.
A source at NAPTIP similarly confirmed their obligations had been settled.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also clarified through a party source that it had resolved its rent issues with the FCTA as of last Friday.
Diplomatic Protocol vs. Municipal Law
This unfolding Abuja ground rent crisis has raised questions about the balance between diplomatic immunity in Nigeria and adherence to municipal property laws.
Experts say while embassies enjoy certain immunities, they are still bound by local regulations on land ownership and associated statutory charges. They caution, however, that any enforcement must respect international diplomatic protocols to avoid straining Nigeria’s foreign relations.
As the 14-day grace period lapses, all eyes remain on the FCTA and Abuja’s diplomatic community, with stakeholders hoping for a diplomatic resolution to what has quickly become a high-profile urban policy standoff with international implications.
