Absorption urges Tinubu to stop the wike from closing the embassy for unpaid leases

The Socio-Economic and Accountability Project (SERAP) on Monday urged the President of the Tinubu Soccer to stop the Federal Capital Minister (FCT), Nyesom Wike, from turning off 34 foreign embassies in Abuja over unpaid land rent.

In a statement issued by a poster on account X (previously Twitter) on Monday, absorbing that such actions would not only violate international diplomatic protocols but also damage Nigeria’s obligations based on global law.

“President Tinubu must immediately be careful and direct the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to immediately withdraw the threat to close 34 embassies in Abuja,” said the organization, referring to Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.

According to the convention, diplomatic missions are protected from local enforcement actions, including search, seizures, or eviction.

The FCT administration last weekend revealed that 34 embassies had failed to pay on land rental payments, some came from 2014.

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The total amount of FCTA’s debt was established in more than ₦ 3.66 million, ranging from simple amounts such as ₦ 150 to more than ₦ 1 million in some cases.

Among the registered embassies belonged to Russia, China, South Africa, Ghana, Germany, India, and the European Union, along with others from Asia, Africa and Latin America.

In particular, China’s economic and commercial advisory office was reportedly owing ₦ 12,000, while the Zambia High Commission owes more than 1.18 million.

On May 26, Wike announced the direction of aggressive law enforcement targeting 4,794 properties in FCT with extraordinary rental, some were not paid up to 43 years.

The embassy is not freed from this command.

However, following a wave of concern from diplomatic stakeholders and international observers, President Tinubu stepped in and offers a grace period of 14 days to solve this problem, an expired window on Monday.