The Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN) said on Monday that the Nigeria House in Manhattan, once a symbol of national pride, has become “a metaphor for systemic neglect.”
A Nigerian diaspora group in the United States has raised alarm over the worsening state of Nigeria’s Consulate and Permanent Mission building in New York, citing infrastructural decay and staff welfare crises.
The Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN) said on Monday that the Nigeria House in Manhattan, once a symbol of national pride, has become “a metaphor for systemic neglect.”
OAN spokesperson, Ms Funmi Dike, said the building’s central air conditioning and ventilation had failed completely, leaving staff and visitors in “suffocating, oven-like conditions.”
“It is not just inconvenient; it is dangerous,” Dike said, noting that elderly Nigerians, pregnant women, and children seeking consular services were being subjected to “inhumane” conditions.
The group also reported plumbing issues, malfunctioning elevators, stained ceilings, and salary delays for staff.
“This is unacceptable in any civilised society, let alone for officers posted abroad to represent Nigeria,” Dike stated.
OAN urged the federal government to urgently intervene, warning that the crisis was damaging Nigeria’s global reputation.
“The Nigeria House is not just another government property; it is Nigeria’s face in the international community,” the group said.