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By Oscar Okhifo
The City of Tshwane in South Africa temporarily disconnected electricity supply to the Nigerian High Commission over unpaid utility bills, before restoring power after the debt was settled.
The development was confirmed on Monday by Executive Mayor Dr. Nasiphi Moya in a post on X. “#TshwaneYaTima: We’ve disconnected electricity at the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They owe the city for utility services,” she wrote.
Hours later, she confirmed the mission had cleared the debt and electricity was restored.
The disconnection sparked reactions online, with many questioning how a diplomatic mission could accumulate unpaid utility bills in the host country.
Concerns about underfunding of Nigeria’s foreign missions have persisted for years. Nigerians living abroad frequently complain about poor services at embassies and high commissions, while workers in these missions often cite insufficient funding as the main reason for service gaps.
During the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, a senior official at a Nigerian mission in the Philippines told this correspondent that basic operational necessities were often lacking due to chronic underfunding.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said missions frequently struggled to meet even basic operational needs.
Retired Ambassador Joe Keshi, a former Nigerian diplomat, has consistently highlighted the numerous operational challenges in Nigeria’s missions abroad. He said that repeated recommendations and proposed reforms from experts often go unheeded, contributing to recurring issues.
The incident reflects a broader pattern of similar challenges within Nigeria. In February 2024, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) issued a 10-day ultimatum to over 50 ministries, agencies, and international offices, including the UN liaison office and ECOWAS over unpaid electricity bills totaling ₦37.641 billion.
The Presidential Villa alone owed ₦923 million, while cumulative debts from the Nigeria Police Force, EFCC, DSS, and the National Assembly ran into billions.
AEDC explained that publicizing the debts had become necessary after repeated attempts to recover payments failed, highlighting a system where ordinary citizens often face strict consequences while large institutions and elites evade timely payment.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian federal government has not issued any further comment on the matter.