FCTA Lists 34 Embassies in Debt, May Seal Premises Over Unpaid Rent Tomorrow (Full List)

Thirty-four embassies in Abuja risk closure as the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) moves to enforce penalties on diplomatic missions and organisations that have failed to pay ground rents owed for up to 11 years. According to official records, the outstanding debts total over N3.6 million, with some unpaid since 2014.

This follows a directive issued by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike on May 26, ordering the enforcement of ground rent payments on 4,794 revoked properties, with some dating back as far as 43 years. However, President Bola Tinubu later granted a 14-day grace period—expiring today—for affected entities to settle their dues.

A breakdown of the defaulters reveals a long list of embassies, including the Ghana High Commission Defence Section, Embassy of Thailand, Côte d’Ivoire, Russian Federation, the Philippines, Turkey, Netherlands, and the Republic of Guinea. Notable debts include N1.7 million by Indonesia’s Defence Attaché and over N1.1 million by Equatorial Guinea’s government.

Some missions have responded publicly, denying any outstanding debts. The Russian Embassy said all bills were paid promptly and it possessed documentation to prove it. The Turkish Embassy attributed its inclusion on the list to a possible bureaucratic mistake, while the German Embassy stated it had not received any formal notice from the FCTA and believed its financial obligations were fully settled as of December 2024.

Similarly, the Ghana High Commission said it had not been officially notified but would consult with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Officials from the embassies of Sierra Leone and other listed countries said they would investigate the claims upon returning to their offices.

The list also includes the embassies of Ireland, Uganda, Iraq, Zambia, Tanzania, Sudan, Niger Republic, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and the Delegation of the European Union, among others. Penalties of N2 million and N3 million will apply depending on the property’s location, according to the FCTA’s Director of Land, Chijioke Nwankwoeze.

Beyond embassies, government institutions like the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) were initially listed as defaulters but have since settled their debts. FIRS’s case, which led to its offices being sealed off, caused tension between the agency and the FCTA. FIRS refuted the allegations, stating it had paid over N2.3 million in response to a demand notice in 2023. A similar resolution was reached with NAPTIP.

The FCT minister’s spokesman, Lere Olayinka, acknowledged that some payments were made through online platforms like Remita and that verification would require submission of receipts.

Diplomatic experts have urged caution. Former Nigerian ambassador to Mexico, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, cited the 1961 Vienna Convention, noting that while diplomatic premises are inviolable, they are still expected to respect local property laws. Foreign affairs analyst Charles Onunaiju warned that sealing embassy premises could violate international protocol and provoke diplomatic fallout.

As the grace period ends today, all eyes are on the FCTA and the affected diplomatic missions to see whether the standoff will lead to enforcement actions or5 further negotiations.