Nigeria’s embassy in South Africa has reportedly been disconnected from public power supply over its inability to pay accumulated electricity bills.
Former diplomat, Ambassador Joe Keshi, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme focused on Nigeria’s foreign relations.
“I was in South Africa in June and visited the embassy. There was no light. All our houses and buildings had electricity, but Nigeria House had none. You can imagine the disgrace to the country,” Keshi said.
Although the amount owed was not revealed, the development comes amid repeated admissions by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that inadequate funding is hampering the effective management of Nigerian missions abroad.
Keshi said poor funding had forced many local staff to resign over unpaid salaries and allowances, warning that starving missions of funds exposes officials to activities that may undermine national interest.
He stressed that foreign missions should be treated as critical projects requiring adequate investment.
On Nigeria’s push for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council, Keshi expressed doubt that the bid would gain traction, noting that global power dynamics, including the position of the United States, may not favour the move.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, recently admitted that several embassies were struggling due to paucity of funds but said efforts were ongoing to sustain essential operations.