Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria loses power over unpaid bills

South African authorities have once again disconnected electricity to the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria over alleged unpaid utility bills, officials confirmed on Monday.

The announcement was made by Nasiphi Moya, mayor of Tshwane city, via an X post, as part of the municipality’s ongoing #TshwaneYaTima initiative, which targets consumers and institutions with significant outstanding debts.

“#TshwaneYaTima: We’ve disconnected electricity at the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They owe the city for utility services,” the mayor tweeted.

This is not the first time the mission has faced power cuts. In 2023, City Power, South Africa’s electricity distribution company, disconnected the Nigerian consulate in Johannesburg over an unpaid debt of at least R600,000 (approximately $35,000). Last September, the high commission was reportedly cut off again due to accumulated unpaid bills.

The repeated disconnections underscore ongoing disputes over utility payments by diplomatic missions in South Africa, raising concerns about operational disruptions and the management of municipal obligations by foreign missions.

Authorities have emphasized that the #TshwaneYaTima campaign is part of broader efforts to enforce accountability and recover outstanding debts from residents and institutions alike.

Following Monday’s disconnection, the Nigerian High Commission reportedly settled its outstanding utility bills, restoring electricity to the premises. The incident highlights both the city’s strict enforcement of municipal payment obligations and the recurring challenges faced by diplomatic missions in managing local service accounts.

Tshwane officials have maintained that the initiative is necessary to ensure fairness, accountability, and sustainability of municipal services, reinforcing that no consumer—private or institutional—is exempt from compliance.