N3.6bn ground rent: FG in last-minute talks with embassies

N3.6bn ground rent: FG in last-minute talks with embassies

The Federal Government has indicated that concerns over ground rent obligations involving several foreign embassies in the Federal Capital Territory will be addressed through established diplomatic processes.

Speaking to our correspondent on Sunday, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the matter would be taken up with the Federal Capital Territory Administration and handled accordingly.

“The ministry will take up the matter with FCTA and it will be addressed via diplomatic channels,” Ebienfa said.

The assurance followed reports that the FCTA might take enforcement action, including the possible sealing of 34 embassies over unpaid ground rents dating back to 2014.

According to a public notice from the FCTA, the embassies collectively owed over N3.6bn in unpaid ground rent.

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had previously ordered enforcement on nearly 4,800 properties, citing prolonged non-payment, but President Bola Tinubu later intervened, granting a two-week grace period for the affected individuals and organisations to settle their debts.

Defaulting entities are also expected to pay penalties ranging between N2m and N3m, depending on location, according to the FCTA’s Director of Land, Chijioke Nwankwoeze.

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 has an outstanding balance of N1,718,211.

The Delegation of the European Union (N1,500), the Embassy of Switzerland (N5,950), the 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.

Some of these missions have however challenged their inclusion on the list, describing it as inaccurate or unverified.

The Russian Embassy denied owing any rent, while the Embassy of Turkey suggested an administrative error might be responsible for its listing.

The German Embassy stated it had not received any formal claim regarding unpaid rent.

The Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo issued a public statement confirming that all outstanding land rates had been fully settled and that normal operations continue without interruption.

The Ghana High Commission noted the publication but said it had not been officially informed and would liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the issue.