By Abuja, Nigeria
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the reconnection of electricity supply to the High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria, South Africa.
In a statement issued on Tuesday at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, the Spokesperson for the ministry, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa said that power was restored after the outstanding bills have been paid.
This was in response to a post via X by the Mayor of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng, South Africa, Nsiphi Moya, on Monday, who called out the Nigerian High Commission in the country for defaulting on utility bills.
In the post about the Nigerian High Commission, Ms Moya wrote, “#TshwaneYaTima: We’ve disconnected electricity at the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They owe the city for utility services.”
However, hours later, the Mayor made a follow-up post announcing that the Nigerian commission had cleared its debt, noting that electricity would be restored to the building.
“We thank the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for honouring its debt to the city. The city will reconnect electricity,” she wrote.
This isn’t the first time power supply in the commission will be disconnected as in late 2025, the commission was disconnected from the electricity grid due to its inability to pay accumulated electricity charges, highlighting ongoing payment issues.
Similarly, in 2023, City Power, an electricity distributor, cut off power to the Nigerian consulate in Johannesburg over outstanding electricity.
