Some of the institutions affected by this directive are the British High Commission, South African High Commission, the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia and the Embassy of Japan.
The Nigerian Government has issued a two-week notice to about 43 foreign embassies and diplomatic houses in Abuja, the country’s capital city, to pay their ground rents.
An advertorial published by the Federal Capital Territory Administration in the Vanguard Newspaper on Tuesday titled, ‘Re: Final Notice on Payment of Outstanding Ground Rent in the FCT,’, said the total amount of the ground rents owed by the foreign institutions is $5.36 million.
According to the advert, any defaulter is at risk of losing its rent title in Abuja after the expiration of the ultimatum.
It reads: “All allottees, property owners, as well as beneficiaries of the sale of Federal Government Houses in the FCT who could not pay or settle their outstanding ground rents for the year 2023, are hereby advised in their interest to ensure payment within two weeks from the date of this publication, failure of which such titles shall be revoked.”
Some of the institutions affected by this directive are the British High Commission, South African High Commission, the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia and the Embassy of Japan.
Others include the Embassy of the Republic of Senegal, US Embassy for Peace, Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Embassy of Turkey, Embassy of the State of Eritrea, Embassy of Algeria, Embassy of Spain, Embassy of France (French School), Embassy of Niger Republic, Embassy of Indonesia (Defence Attache), Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia and Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia.
Others include the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia, the Embassy of the (Peoples) Republic of Angola, Embassy of Belgium, Embassy of Tunisia, Embassy of Palestine Liberation Organisation, Royal Thai Embassy, Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic Of Venezuela, Abuja, Embassy of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, Embassy of the Republic of Iraq, Embassy of Democratic Republic of Congo, Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria, Embassy of Italy, German Embassy and Embassy of Russian Federation.
Others are the Embassy of Thailand, Embassy of the Republic of Togo in Nigeria, Consulate of the Republic of Yemen, Cameroon High Commission, and Zambia High Commission.
A similar directive was given by FCTA to organisations in Abuja last September.
A notice issued signed by the Permanent Secretary in the FCT, Mr Olusade Adesola said property owners were expected to pay their annual rents without in within two weeks after the publication of the notice or they would lose their titles.
The notice read: “The Federal Capital Territory Administration hereby reminds the general public, particularly allottees of Land(s) within the FCT, of their obligation to the Administration as stipulated in the covenant terms of the Certificates of Occupancy to wit ‘to pay in advance without demand to the FCTA, the annual ground rent from the first day of January of each year’ and also note that a breach or failure to comply with any or all of the terms stated in the Rights of Occupancy shall be liable to the revocation of the title.
“In this regard, the under-listed public institutions and corporate organizations are requested to come forward and settle their outstanding Ground Rents within two (2) weeks from the date of this publication, failure of which their title(s) shall be revoked.”