Thirty-four embassies in Abuja face imminent closure by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) due to unpaid ground rents spanning 11 years, with a total debt of N3,662,196. The FCTA’s recent publication revealed that many foreign missions have not settled their ground rents since 2014. On May 26, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike ordered enforcement actions on 4,794 properties revoked for rent arrears ranging from 10 to 43 years.
President Bola Tinubu intervened by granting a 14-day grace period, which ends on Tuesday, for affected property holders to clear their debts. Defaulters face penalty fees between N2 million and N3 million depending on location, according to Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land at FCTA.
Among the embassies listed are Ghana’s High Commission Defence Section, Thailand, Côte d’Ivoire, Russia, Philippines, Netherlands, Turkey, Guinea, Ireland, Uganda, Iraq, Zambia, Tanzania, Germany, Democratic Republic of Congo, Venezuela, Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, Egypt, Chad, Sierra Leone, India, Sudan, Niger, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Indonesia, European Union, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, China’s Economic and Commercial Counselor’s Office, South Africa, and Equatorial Guinea.
Several embassies, including Russia, Turkey, and Germany, have denied owing any outstanding ground rent, citing timely payments and administrative errors. The Ghana High Commission and Sierra Leone Embassy said they were not officially notified but would investigate the claims.
FCTA spokesman Lere Olayinka pledged to investigate embassies disputing the debts and take appropriate action. Former Nigerian ambassador Ogbole Amedu-Ode cited the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, emphasizing diplomatic premises’ inviolability but noted local regulations must be respected, suggesting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs handle the matter bilaterally.
Foreign affairs analyst Charles Onunaiju warned that enforcement actions against embassies could breach diplomatic protocols and cause diplomatic fallout.
Separately, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), also listed as defaulters, have settled their ground rent arrears with the FCTA. The FIRS and NAPTIP offices, previously sealed over unpaid rents, have resolved their issues.
This enforcement marks a significant step by the FCTA to reclaim properties and enforce statutory land charges in Abuja, with Tuesday as the critical deadline for compliance.
