A wave of tension is rippling through the diplomatic community in Abuja as over 30 embassies face the possibility of administrative action by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for allegedly defaulting on ground rent payments stretching back more than a decade.
According to official documents, the diplomatic properties in question are said to have accumulated arrears totalling over N3.6 million since 2014. The FCTA recently launched a sweeping enforcement drive aimed at recovering dues from thousands of property holders, following directives from the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
This move is part of a broader push that affects nearly 4,800 property titles across the territory, some of which had been delinquent for over 40 years. In an effort to mitigate the situation, President Bola Tinubu intervened, issuing a 14-day grace period set to expire Monday—for all concerned parties to settle their obligations.
Among the diplomatic missions flagged for non-compliance are those of Ghana, Thailand, Côte d’Ivoire, Russia, the Philippines, and Turkey, among others. Penalty charges for overdue rent have also been announced, ranging from N2 million to N3 million, depending on the location of the property.
However, several of the missions named in the FCTA notice have disputed the claims. The Russian Embassy insisted it had paid all relevant fees in full and on time, asserting that documented proof exists. Turkey’s mission expressed surprise, hinting at a possible bureaucratic oversight and vowing to investigate internally.
The embassies of Germany and Ghana also pushed back, stating they had not received any formal communication on the issue. Germany emphasized that all its financial commitments had been met by the end of 2024.
These denials have prompted a response from the FCTA, whose spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, acknowledged that payment verifications could be delayed due to the use of multiple platforms like Remita. He confirmed that reconciliation would proceed once receipts were presented.
The issue has also sparked a diplomatic debate. Analysts and former diplomats caution that any attempt to enforce rent collection by entering embassy premises could breach international protocols, especially under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which protects the inviolability of diplomatic missions.
While the matter escalated, some Nigerian institutions previously named among the defaulters—such as the Peoples Democratic Party, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)—have reportedly settled their dues. In the case of FIRS, a standoff with the FCTA was resolved after proof of payment for two affected properties was provided.
Diplomatic observers suggest that rather than public threats, a more nuanced, bilateral approach should be adopted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resolve the impasse—particularly where misunderstandings or lack of formal notifications may be at play.
As the grace period winds down, attention now turns to how the FCTA will proceed and whether a diplomatic resolution can be achieved without sparking international discord.
