The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in a situation involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who has threatened to shut down 34 foreign embassies in Abuja due to unpaid ground rents. SERAP warned that such action would violate international law and diplomatic conventions.
In a statement, SERAP emphasized the need for President Tinubu to caution Minister Wike and demand the immediate withdrawal of this threat. The organization referenced the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which guarantees the inviolability of diplomatic missions and prohibits any form of search, requisition, or execution of their premises.
The controversy began when the Federal Capital Territory Administration revealed that at least 34 embassies in Abuja have outstanding ground rents dating back to 2014, amounting to over N3.66 million. Among the embassies listed as defaulters are those from Ghana, Thailand, Russia, and the Philippines, with debts ranging from as low as N150 to over N1 million.
Minister Wike had previously issued a directive to enforce actions against numerous properties with unpaid rents, which included the embassies. Following public backlash and concerns over diplomatic sensitivity, President Tinubu intervened, granting a 14-day grace period that is set to expire soon.
While SERAP acknowledged the importance of revenue collection, it stressed that such measures must not violate diplomatic protocols or international agreements.
