SERAP Urges President Tinubu To Halt FCT Minister’s Plan To Close 34 Foreign Embassies Over Unpaid Ground Rents.
Abuja, 9 June 2025 – The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and prevent the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, from proceeding with a controversial plan to shut down 34 foreign embassies in Abuja over unpaid ground rents.
In a strongly worded statement posted on its official X account, SERAP warned that such a move would breach international diplomatic laws, specifically Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which ensures the inviolability of embassy premises and protects diplomatic missions from interference by host nations.
The row stems from Minister Wike’s threat to revoke 4,794 land titles and close embassies and other properties that owe ground rents, some dating back to 2014. The FCT Administration claims that foreign missions collectively owe more than ₦3.6 billion in unpaid fees. In response, President Tinubu stepped in on 26 May, granting a 14-day grace period for embassies and property owners to clear their debts. That deadline expired on Monday, 9 June, raising fears that enforcement actions could commence as early as Tuesday.
SERAP’s statement urged swift action, declaring, “President Tinubu should urgently caution and direct the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to immediately withdraw the threat to close down 34 embassies in Abuja. The purported threat is contrary to the provisions of Article 22 of the Vienna Convention.”
The Vienna Convention, a cornerstone of international diplomacy, explicitly safeguards embassies. Article 22, Paragraph 1, states that “the premises of the mission shall be inviolable,” while Paragraph 3 guarantees immunity for embassy property and transport from seizure or enforcement actions by the host country.
The potential closure of diplomatic missions has sparked concern, with SERAP arguing that such a step would undermine Nigeria’s standing in the international community and violate long-standing global agreements. The organisation has called on President Tinubu to act decisively to ensure compliance with international law and prevent a diplomatic fallout.
As of Tuesday, no official response has been issued by the Presidency or the FCT Minister’s office regarding the next steps. The situation remains tense, with the international community closely watching how Nigeria navigates this delicate issue.
