At least 34 embassies in Abuja are at risk of having their properties sealed due to failure to pay statutory ground rent, according to Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). The administration has issued final warnings to the embassies, giving them a two-week deadline to settle their outstanding dues or face enforcement actions.
The affected embassies are part of a larger group of 93 property owners — including corporations and high-profile individuals — who collectively owe the FCTA billions of naira. The authorities have expressed frustration over the non-compliance, noting that repeated reminders have been ignored.
Muhammad Hazat Sule, the Director of Information and Communication for the FCTA, stated that the administration is fully prepared to take legal action, including the sealing of properties, if payments are not made promptly. The move is part of a broader initiative to enhance revenue collection and enforce land use regulations in the capital.
