Ministry blames budget delay as S’Africa cuts embassy power supply

Tuggar

The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has attributed the disconnection of electricity to the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, to delays in the passage of Nigeria’s 2026 national budget.

Power to the mission was cut on Monday by the City of Tshwane, whose Executive Mayor, Nasiphi Moya, confirmed the action on X, stating: “#TshwaneYaTima: We’ve disconnected electricity at the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They owe the city for utility services.”

Moya shared a photograph of the embassy building alongside the post.

Responding to the blackout, MFA spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, explained that the unpaid bills were due to funding constraints caused by the budget delay.

He said, “If they say Nigeria has not paid in January, that means there is no money for Nigeria to pay in January because the budget has not been passed.”

He added, “The Nigeria mission in Pretoria has not paid because money has not been sent to them since the budget is not yet in place.”

Ebienfa further stated that the ministry was engaging with both the mission and South African authorities to resolve the matter promptly. Punch