{"id":6786,"date":"2025-06-09T10:11:50","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T10:11:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/?p=6786"},"modified":"2025-06-09T10:11:50","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T10:11:50","slug":"ground-rent-34-embassies-risk-closure-says-wike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/2025\/06\/09\/ground-rent-34-embassies-risk-closure-says-wike\/","title":{"rendered":"Ground Rent: 34 Embassies Risk Closure Says Wike"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Thirty-four embassies in Abuja risk being closed down by the Federal Capital Territory Administration over unpaid ground rents spanning\u00a0 over 11 years,<\/p>\n

The opposition Peoples Democratic, Federal Inland Revenue Service and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, who were also listed as defaulters, had settled their ground rent with the FCTA.<\/p>\n

A publication by the FCTA revealed that many foreign missions had not paid their ground rents since 2014, with the affected diplomatic missions collectively owing N3,662,196.<\/p>\n

On May 26, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, ordered officials to commence enforcement on 4,794 properties that were revoked due to non-payment of ground rent, spanning between 10 and 43 years.<\/p>\n

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But President Bola Tinubu intervened, granting a 14-day grace period, which ends on Monday (today), to affected property holders to settle their outstanding obligations.<\/p>\n

The Director of Land, FCTA, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, disclosed that the defaulters would pay penalty fees of N2 m and N3 m respectively, depending on their locations.<\/p>\n

The defaulting embassies include the Ghana High Commission Defence Section (N5,950); Embassy of Thailand (N5,350), Embassy of C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire (N5,500); Embassy of the Russian Federation (N1,100); Embassy of the Philippines (N5,950); Royal Netherlands Embassy (N5,950); Embassy of Turkey (N3,350), and the Embassy of the Republic of Guinea (N5,950).<\/p>\n

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Also included are the embassies of Ireland (N500), Uganda (N5,950), Iraq (N550), and the Zambia High Commission, which owes (N1,189,990).<\/p>\n

Other missions on the list include the Tanzania High Commission (N6,000), German Embassy (N1,000), Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo (N5,950), Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (N459,055), Embassy of the Republic of Korea (N5,950), and the High Commission of Trinidad and Tobago (N500).<\/p>\n

The Embassy of Egypt (N5,950), Embassy of Chad (N5,950), Sierra Leone Commission (N5,900), High Commission of India (N150), Embassy of Sudan (N5,950), Embassy of Niger Republic (N500), and Kenya High Commission (N5,950) are also listed among the defaulters.<\/p>\n

Others are the embassies of Zimbabwe (N500), Ethiopia (N5,950), and Indonesia (Defence Attach\u00e9), which have an outstanding balance of (N1,718,211.<\/p>\n

The Delegation of the European Union (N1,500), Embassy of Switzerland (N5,950), Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia (N5,950), China\u2019s Economic and Commercial Counselor\u2019s Office (N12,000), South African High Commission (N4,950), and the Government of Equatorial Guinea (N1,137,240) also featured on the list.<\/p>\n

Reacting, the Embassy of the Russian Federation firmly denied any outstanding debts.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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 necessary documents confirming payment,\u201d it stated.<\/p>\n

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Similarly, the Embassy of Turkiye questioned its inclusion on the FCTA\u2019s list, citing a possible administrative error.<\/p>\n

A Turkish official told our correspondent, \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The German Embassy, in a chat with The Journalist clarified that no formal claim or demand regarding unpaid rent had been brought to its attention by the FCTA.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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,\u201d the embassy stated.<\/p>\n

It further insisted that all official financial obligations relating to the embassy\u2019s premises had been settled as of the end of 2024, adding that there are no known outstanding payments.<\/p>\n

The embassy emphasised its commitment to maintaining a respectful and cooperative relationship with the Nigerian government and the FCTA, reaffirming its dedication to transparency and mutual trust.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoreover, we can confirm that all official financial obligations relating to the Embassy\u2019s premises have been fully settled as of the end of 2024. There are no known outstanding payments.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany highly values its respectful and cooperative relationship with the government of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory Administration and remains fully committed to transparency and mutual trust,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n

The Embassy of Ghana also told journalists that even though it had not been notified officially of the development, it would reach out to the Foreign Affairs on ways to resolve the issue.<\/p>\n

The embassy stated, \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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An official at the Sierra Leone Embassy said they were unaware of the issue and would verify the claim.<\/p>\n

He noted, \u201cI am not aware, and I am not in the office now. On my return, I will inform my authorities to cross-check.\u201d<\/p>\n

Concerning the claims by some embassies that they were not indebted to the FCTA, spokesman for the FCT minister, Lere Olayinka, stated, \u201cThis claim will be promptly investigated and appropriate action will be taken.\u201d<\/p>\n

Commenting on the development, a former Nigerian ambassador to Mexico, Ogbole Amedu-Ode, referenced the 1961 Vienna Convention and urged caution.<\/p>\n

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\u201cFor the diplomatic premises, if we are to go by the Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations, the premises of a diplomatic mission are inviolable,\u201d he submitted.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut that is not to say that they are not supposed to obey local municipal rules and regulations or the rules and regulations governing such things as relate to property ownership. However, there may be a caveat,\u201d Amedu-Ode said.<\/p>\n

He suggested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should handle the matter diplomatically.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a question of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs looking at each one on a bilateral basis and implementing it on a reciprocal basis,\u201d the ex-envoy stated.<\/p>\n

A foreign affairs analyst, Charles Onunaiju, also questioned the legality of applying ground rent rules to diplomatic missions, arguing that it was not applicable under international laws.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the Vienna Convention establishing diplomatic missions, diplomatic premises are sovereign territory of their respective countries,\u201d Onunaiju pointed out.<\/p>\n

He warned that any enforcement action against embassies could trigger diplomatic fallout.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIf you get into their premises to lock it down, you are violating a very advanced diplomatic protocol. It will be a breach of diplomatic protocol,\u201d the analyst warned.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, a reliable source close to the Peoples Democratic Party leadership, who spoke on condition of requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, told the media that the PDP had settled all matters related to ground rent with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.<\/p>\n

He stated, \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked about the development, the FCT minister\u2019s spokesman, Lere Olayinka, said, \u201cSome of these things, there is no way we can know. Some are paying through Remita, people are paying online. So, it\u2019s not until they bring their receipts that we can know.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was also learnt that the Federal Inland Revenue Service had mended fences with the FCTA after their offices were sealed off following non-compliance.<\/p>\n

On May 26, the FCTA sealed off the FIRS premises for non-payment of its ground rent, but the action sparked a row between both bodies, with the latter denying owing ground rent on its properties in Abuja. The revenue-generating firm thus demanded a public apology from the FCTA for sealing off one of its offices.<\/p>\n

However, the FCTA insisted that the shutdown was due to the non-payment of ground rent, a statutory land charge.<\/p>\n

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Refuting the allegation that FIRS owed 25-year ground rent on two of its offices at No. 12 and 14, Sokode Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, Director, Facility Management Department, FIRS, Tyofa Abeghe, said nothing could be further from the truth on the claim as FIRS had paid the said money.<\/p>\n

He said a demand notice from Abuja Geographic Information System dated September 2023, asking for ground rent on the properties was honoured with a payment of N2, 364, 003 three months after the notice was issued.<\/p>\n

It was learnt that the payment issue had been resolved.<\/p>\n

In a similar vein, NAPTIP, which also had its office sealed, had settled their outstanding ground net, a source at the federal agency said<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Thirty-four embassies in Abuja risk being closed down by the Federal Capital Territory Administration over unpaid ground rents spanning\u00a0 over 11 years, The opposition Peoples Democratic, Federal Inland Revenue Service and the National Agency...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6787,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6786","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6786","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6786"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6786\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6788,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6786\/revisions\/6788"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6786"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6786"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6786"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}