By Charles Pemu 
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is on a collision course with the international community, threatening to close down 34 foreign embassies in Abuja over unpaid ground rents spanning 11 years. The audacious move by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, part of a wider enforcement drive, sets up an unprecedented diplomatic challenge, raising concerns about the inviolability of diplomatic premises under international law.
With a 14-day grace period for defaulters expiring today, the FCTA’s publication reveals affected diplomatic missions collectively owe over N3.6 million since 2014. While the FCTA has successfully compelled major domestic defaulters, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), to settle their outstanding debts, enforcing against sovereign embassies presents a far more complex challenge.
Several prominent embassies, including those of Russia, Turkey, and Germany, have vehemently denied any outstanding obligations or claimed no formal notification, suggesting potential administrative errors on the FCTA’s part. “The Embassy pays all bills… in good faith and on time,” stated the Embassy of the Russian Federation.
However, experts are warning of severe diplomatic fallout if the FCTA proceeds with aggressive enforcement. Ambassador Ogbole Amedu-Ode, a former Nigerian envoy, referenced the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which upholds the inviolability of diplomatic missions. Foreign affairs analyst Charles Onunaiju cautioned that any attempt to “lock down” embassy premises would constitute a serious breach of international protocol, risking a diplomatic crisis.
The FCTA’s aggressive revenue drive, having secured compliance from domestic entities, now faces its ultimate test on the international stage. Minister Wike’s no-holds-barred approach to debt recovery is poised to weigh heavily against the intricate rules of international diplomacy, with the global community keenly observing how Abuja navigates this delicate balance.