34 foreign embassies in Abuja are currently at the risk of closure due to alleged unpaid ground rent debts, with some spanning over a decade.
This was contained in a publication issued by the FCTA. The publication revealed that a total of 34 foreign embassies in Abuja had not paid their ground rents since 2014, with the affected diplomatic missions collectively owing N3,662,196.
President Bola Tinubu had set a deadline for the payment of outstanding ground rent, which will expire on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
The President’s ultimatum came after the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the leadership of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, commenced enforcement on 4,794 revoked properties due to non-payment of ground rent, spanning between 10 and 43 years.
However, Tinubu announced a 14-day ultimatum, warning that failure to settle these debts could lead to the sealing of premises, disrupting operations for those affected.
According to the publication, the defaulting embassies include the Ghana High Commission Defence Section (N5,950); Embassy of Thailand (N5,350), Embassy of Côte d’Ivoire (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).
Also included are the embassies of Ireland (N500), Uganda (N5,950), Iraq (N550), and the Zambia High Commission, which owes (N1,189,990).
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).
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.
Others are the embassies of Zimbabwe (N500), Ethiopia (N5,950), and Indonesia (Defence Attaché), which have an outstanding balance of N1,718,211.
The Delegation of the European Union (N1,500), Embassy of Switzerland (N5,950), Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia (N5,950), China’s Economic and Commercial Counselor’s Office (N12,000), South African High Commission (N4,950), and the Government of Equatorial Guinea (N1,137,240) also featured on the list.
