Nigeria High Commission Allegedly Denies Rent Troubles In Accra

The Nigerian Mission in Ghana has allegedly denied viral news reports that a diplomatic row with Ghana is brewing over Ghana’s forceful eviction of the Nigerian High Commission from its Chancery in Accra.

Nigerian online portal, Legit.ng, reported Thursday that a Spokesperson for the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ferdinand Nwonye, denied the reports.

It quotes Mr. Nwonye as saying, “We are working on it; there is no cause for alarm. It is not our chancery, not our residence, it is just one of our official quarters and has been unoccupied for some time. Though we have some items inside it, no one is occupying it.” 

According to Legit.ng, the spokesperson also dismissed aspects of the report which virtually characterized the development as an eviction that is throwing officials of the Nigerian High Commission, including High Commissioner, Olufemi Michael Abikoye, on the streets.

It quotes Ferdinand Nwonye as saying that the property over which the issues have developed, located on 10, Barnes Road in Accra, is just one of a number of official quarters of the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana.

The property had a lease agreement signed between the Nigerian Ministry of Finance and Ghana, but expired in August 2019 and hence the Ghanaian government decided to lay claim to the property, according to Mr. Nwonye is said to have explained.

Consequently, according to Legit.ng, Mr. Nwonye assured that the truth to the matter is that the reports going around are only exaggerations.

The reports emerged Thursday carrying claims that the Nigerian High Commission has been asked by lawyers of one Amaco Microfinance Company Limited to vamoose from the 10 Barnes Road building in Accra.

Allegedly, the property had been reallocated to Amaco Microfinance since August 26, 2019, by Ghana’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources with the consent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. 

High Commissioner, Michael Abikoye was quoted as saying that “the letter further stressed that failure to comply within the stipulated time will lead to depositing the Mission’s belongings at the nearest Accra police station.”