By Ghazali Ibrahim
Nigerians have reacted sharply after South African authorities disconnected electricity supply to the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria over unpaid utility bills.
The City of Tshwane confirmed on Monday that it cut power to the Nigerian High Commission after the mission failed to settle outstanding municipal charges.
The city’s executive mayor, Nasiphi Moya, announced the action on X, saying the embassy owed the municipality for electricity and other services.
The decision triggered an immediate wave of reactions on social media in Nigeria, with many users expressing embarrassment that a foreign diplomatic mission could be disconnected over debt.
Several commentators described the incident as a “national disgrace,” questioning how an embassy representing Africa’s largest economy could default on basic utility payments.
Others reacted with sarcasm and criticism, drawing parallels between Nigeria’s domestic power challenges and the embassy’s situation abroad.
Some Nigerians said the episode reflected long-standing issues of poor funding and weak oversight of the country’s foreign missions.
South African online reactions were less sympathetic. On X, users mocked the Nigerian mission, insisting that diplomatic status should not exempt any organisation from paying its bills.
“If you don’t pay, you get cut off,” one widely shared comment read.
Hours after the disconnection, Mayor Moya confirmed that the Nigerian High Commission had settled its debt and that electricity would be restored.
Despite the quick resolution, the incident has reignited debate in Nigeria over the management and funding of its embassies, with many calling for greater transparency to avoid similar embarrassments in the future.
