The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) Nigeria has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and halt what it described as a “purported threat” by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to close down 34 foreign embassies in Abuja due to unpaid ground rents.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, SERAP warned that such action would violate international law and diplomatic conventions governing the inviolability of diplomatic missions.
The group urged, “President Tinubu should urgently caution and direct the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to immediately withdraw the threat to close down 34 embassies in Abuja.”
SERAP cited Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which guarantees that the premises of diplomatic missions are inviolable and immune from search, requisition, attachment, or execution.
The statement quoted Article 22, paragraph 1: “The premises of the mission shall be inviolable.” It also referenced paragraph 3, which states, “The premises of the mission, their furnishings and other property thereon and the means of transport of the mission shall be immune from search, requisition, attachment or execution.”
The controversy arose after the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) revealed that at least 34 embassies in Abuja owe ground rents dating back as far as 2014.
According to reports, the total amount owed by these missions exceeds N3.66 million.
Among the embassies listed as defaulters are those of Ghana, Thailand, Côte d’Ivoire, Russia, Philippines, Netherlands, Turkey, Guinea, Ireland, Uganda, Iraq, Zambia, Tanzania, Germany, DR Congo, Venezuela, Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, Egypt, Chad, India, Sudan, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Indonesia, the European Union, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, China, South Africa, and Equatorial Guinea.
Debts vary widely, ranging from as little as N150 to over N1 million.
For example, the Zambia High Commission owes N1,189,990, Indonesia’s Defence Attaché owes N1,718,211, and China’s Economic and Commercial Counselor’s Office owes N12,000.
On May 26, FCT Minister Wike issued a directive to enforce rent collection on 4,794 properties with unpaid rents dating from 10 to 43 years, which included the embassies with outstanding dues.
However, following diplomatic concerns and public backlash, President Tinubu intervened to grant a 14-day grace period, which expires on Monday.
The FCTA’s Director of Land, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, stated that embassies and other defaulters would be liable to pay penalty fees of N2 million or N3 million, depending on their property locations.
While acknowledging the importance of revenue collection, SERAP emphasised that such measures must respect diplomatic protocols and international agreements to avoid legal and diplomatic repercussions.