South Africa Cuts Power to Nigerian High Commission Over Unpaid Utility Bills
- Feb 2
- 1 min read
South African municipal authorities temporarily disconnected electricity supply to Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria after the diplomatic mission failed to clear outstanding utility bills owed to the City of Tshwane.
The power cut was carried out as part of the city’s routine enforcement measures against defaulting consumers, with officials stressing that diplomatic missions are expected to meet their financial obligations for municipal services.
The incident became public after the Executive Mayor of Tshwane confirmed the disconnection, stating that the Nigerian mission had accumulated unpaid charges for electricity and other utilities.
The action sparked widespread reactions, particularly on social media, as Nigerians and South Africans questioned how a foreign high commission could allow essential service debts to accumulate in a host country.
Hours later, city authorities announced that the Nigerian High Commission had settled its outstanding bills. Electricity supply was subsequently restored following confirmation of payment.
Neither the Nigerian High Commission nor Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued an official statement on the matter as of the time of filing this report.
The development has renewed scrutiny of the management and funding of Nigeria’s foreign missions, amid recurring concerns over delayed funding, facility maintenance and operational challenges faced by embassies abroad.
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