Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is at the centre of a brewing diplomatic storm following his directive threatening to shut down 34 foreign embassies in Abuja over unpaid ground rents.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has now urged President Bola Tinubu to halt what it describes as a dangerous and unlawful move that could violate international diplomatic protocols.
Wike’s directive, issued on 26 May, included a sweeping enforcement order targeting 4,794 properties owing rents as far back as 43 years, embassies among them.
Though the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) claims these missions owe a total of over ₦3.66 million in arrears, SERAP contends that Wike’s approach threatens Nigeria’s international reputation and breaches established legal protections under global conventions.
In a public appeal on Monday, SERAP warned that enforcing such closures would contravene Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which guarantees the inviolability of embassy premises.
“President Tinubu should urgently caution and direct the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to immediately withdraw the threat,” the organisation stated via its official X (formerly Twitter) account.
Article 22, SERAP noted, explicitly prohibits any form of search, requisition, attachment, or execution on diplomatic premises.
“Such threats, if carried out, would constitute a clear violation of international law and Nigeria’s diplomatic obligations,” the group added.
Among the embassies reportedly affected are those of Ghana, Russia, Saudi Arabia, China, Germany, South Africa, India, and the European Union. The amounts owed range from as little as ₦150 to over ₦1 million.
China’s Economic and Commercial Counselor’s Office alone reportedly owes ₦12,000, while Indonesia’s Defence Attaché owes ₦1.7 million and Zambia’s High Commission is in arrears of nearly ₦1.2 million.
Although Tinubu responded to early concerns by granting a 14-day grace period, which expires yesterday, the FCTA insists embassies and other defaulters will face penalties of ₦2 million or ₦3 million, depending on the location of their properties.
Wike’s aggressive stance on recovering ground rent debts has been a hallmark of his tenure as FCT Minister, but this particular move potentially targeting foreign diplomatic institutions is shaping into a significant test of his discretion and the federal government’s adherence to international norms.
While SERAP agrees that the recovery of public revenue is important, it warns that diplomatic missions are not ordinary tenants and must be treated within the bounds of diplomatic law.
The prospect of embassies being forcibly shut down, even over legitimate debts, has raised concerns among legal experts and foreign affairs observers about the possible diplomatic fallout and legal ramifications for Nigeria.
As the grace period lapses, attention now turns to the Presidency and whether Tinubu will rein in Wike’s enforcement plan or risk triggering a broader international controversy.
