Ground rent is money that property owners must pay the government for using land. The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), which manages Abuja, says these diplomatic missions collectively owe N3,662,196 since 2014.
Thirty-four foreign missions in Abuja risk closure for allegedly defaulting on ground rent payments totaling N3.66 million since 2014, despite President Tinubu’s 14-day grace period.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has flagged diplomatic missions from Ghana, Russia, Turkey, and others for unpaid land fees. While some embassies like Zambia (N1.18m) and Equatorial Guinea (N1.13m) owe significant sums, others dispute the claims. Russia’s Embassy stated: “We pay all bills…on time,” while Turkey called it a potential “bureaucratic mistake.”
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike had initially ordered enforcement against 4,794 defaulters before Tinubu’s intervention. Defaulters now face N2m–N3m penalties. Notably, some Nigerian agencies like FIRS and NAPTIP have cleared their debts.
The standoff highlights Abuja’s crackdown on property violations, with affected embassies scrambling to verify or settle claims to avoid diplomatic compound seizures.
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