FCTA Threatens Closure of 34 Embassies Over 11-Year Ground Rent Default
By DAYO ADESULU
Multiple Missions Deny Owing as FCTA Publishes Default List
LAGOS — Thirty-four foreign embassies in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, risk potential shutdowns by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over unpaid ground rents dating back as far as 2014. The FCTA disclosed this development in a recent publication detailing the long-standing financial obligations owed by several diplomatic missions, with the total debt pegged at ₦3,662,196.
FCTA Moves to Enforce Ground Rent Recovery
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike had, on May 26, ordered the enforcement of land revocation on 4,794 properties due to non-payment of ground rents for between 10 and 43 years. However, President Bola Tinubu intervened, granting a 14-day grace period—ending today—for affected property holders to clear their debts.
The FCTA’s Director of Lands, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, announced that defaulters would be required to pay penalties ranging between ₦2 million and ₦3 million, depending on their property location.
High-Profile Diplomatic Missions Named as Defaulters
Among the embassies listed as owing include:
- Ghana High Commission (Defence Section) – ₦5,950
- Embassy of Thailand – ₦5,350
- Russian Federation Embassy – ₦1,100
- Philippines Embassy – ₦5,950
- Royal Netherlands Embassy – ₦5,950
- Embassy of Turkey – ₦3,350
- Republic of Guinea Embassy – ₦5,950
- German Embassy – ₦1,000
- Embassy of Venezuela – ₦459,055
- Zambia High Commission – ₦1,189,990
- Indonesia (Defence Attaché) – ₦1,718,211
- China (Economic and Commercial Office) – ₦12,000
- Equatorial Guinea Government – ₦1,137,240
Other missions named include embassies of India, Sudan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Sierra Leone, Ireland, Uganda, and Ethiopia.
Embassies React: Russia, Germany, Turkiye Deny Debt
Reacting to the publication, the Russian Embassy dismissed the allegation, insisting that all dues had been settled. “The Embassy pays all rent bills in good faith and on time. We have necessary documents confirming payments,” the statement read.
Similarly, the Embassy of Turkiye described the listing as potentially erroneous. A Turkish diplomat told The PUNCH: “We haven’t received any formal notification about the debt. We suspect this may be a bureaucratic error and will resolve it promptly.”
Germany’s Embassy also refuted the claim, saying no demand for payment had been made by the FCTA. “All financial obligations relating to our premises have been settled as of the end of 2024. We maintain a cooperative relationship with Nigeria and uphold transparency,” the statement noted.
Others Await Clarification or Communication
- The Embassy of Ghana acknowledged awareness of the report but said it had not been officially contacted. It pledged to liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resolve the issue.
- A Sierra Leone embassy official said they were unaware of the debt but would verify internally upon return to the office.
FCTA Vows Investigation Into Disputes
Lere Olayinka, spokesperson for the FCT Minister, responded to the denials, saying, “The claim will be promptly investigated and appropriate action will be taken.”
Experts Urge Caution: Vienna Convention Applies
Diplomatic experts have urged restraint in enforcement. Ambassador Ogbole Amedu-Ode, former envoy to Mexico, cited the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which classifies diplomatic properties as inviolable sovereign territories.
“While embassies are expected to obey local property laws, any enforcement action should be handled with diplomatic sensitivity,” Amedu-Ode advised.
Foreign affairs analyst, Charles Onunaiju, added that applying ground rent regulations to embassies might not align with international law. “Any rash enforcement could trigger serious diplomatic backlash,” he warned.
Legal and Diplomatic Balancing Act
With the grace period now expired, the FCTA faces a delicate task: enforcing local laws while maintaining Nigeria’s diplomatic credibility. As multiple missions insist they’ve met their obligations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may need to step in to mediate and ensure mutual respect is upheld.
Vienna Convention Protections vs. Local Enforcement
Under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, diplomatic premises are inviolable, meaning host state authorities cannot enter them without explicit consent reddit.com+5guardian.ng+5saharareporters.com+5cps.gov.uk+10classic.austlii.edu.au+10en.wikipedia.org+10. The Convention also exempts mission premises from “municipal dues and taxes,” except for charges tied to specific services rendered reddit.com+3classic.austlii.edu.au+3seylii.org+3.
This immunity, however, protects embassies from forced entry and seizure—it does not mean those properties are exempt from all local regulations. Nigeria may still levy charges such as ground rent, provided it does so without breaching diplomatic immunity.
2. Risk of Diplomatic Fallout
If the FCTA proceeds with certificate revocation or asset seizure, it could constitute a serious violation of the Vienna Convention. Hostile actions toward embassies can prompt:
- Diplomatic retaliation, such as declaring Nigerian diplomats persona non grata
- Bilateral tensions, with embassies citing possible retaliatory measures
- In extreme cases, expulsion or suspension of diplomatic relations guardian.ng+1reddit.com+1.
Such enforcement must be handled delicately, with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs taking the lead rather than FCTA alone.
3. Precedents from Other Jurisdictions
Countries like the UK and Australia have resolved similar issues by verifying exemptions via diplomatic channels—with minimal enforcement actions. Their protocols demonstrate that revocation of diplomatic status is extremely rare and used only as a last resort (e.g., the UK’s Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987 invoked only once) en.wikipedia.org.
4. Embassies’ Rebuttals and Potential Resolutions
Several embassies listed as defaulters—Russia, Germany, Turkiye, Ghana, Sierra Leone—have refuted owing any ground rent. This suggests possible:
- Administrative errors in FCTA’s list
- Need for formal communication channels between FCTA, Foreign Affairs, and embassies
- Potential bilateral negotiation or validation processes to resolve discrepancies
Without resolution, embassies might escalate to formal diplomatic protests against Nigeria.
5. Legal and Practical Considerations
Ambassador Ogbole Amedu-Ode noted that diplomatic premises, though inviolable, remain subject to local laws and should be addressed on a bilateral basis guardian.ng+1saharareporters.com+1icj-cij.org+2legal.un.org+2reddit.com+2icj-cij.org+4en.wikipedia.org+4saharareporters.com+4reddit.comen.wikipedia.org+1legal.un.org+1. Analyst Charles Onunaiju added that the FCTA risks undermining Nigeria’s compliance with international law and inciting global backlash .
6. Navigating a Diplomatic Tightrope
For Nigeria to act without jeopardizing international standing, the FCTA and Ministry of Foreign Affairs should:
- Audit each listed embassy’s account to confirm arrears.
- Communicate formally through diplomatic note verbale, allowing embassies to respond.
- Negotiate discrepancies bilaterally, possibly offering grace periods or structured payment.
- Avoid coercive enforcement—engineers of enforcement (e.g., court actions or fencing off premises) could be met with diplomatic reciprocity.
✅ Final Assessment
While enforcing revenues like ground rent is a legitimate state function, imposing it on embassies requires extra layers of legal consultation and diplomacy. The potential fallout—property inviolability breaches, tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions, or reciprocal retaliation—could negate any financial gain.
Instead, Nigeria should prioritize:
- Transparent reconciliation
- Mutual respect for diplomatic privilege
- Professional negotiation
- Rules aligned with the Vienna Convention
Such an approach would uphold Nigeria’s international obligations while seeking compliance in a manner that preserves goodwill with foreign missions.
