• MFA
• Nigerian High Commission
• Power Cut
• South Africa

JUST-IN: POWER RESTORED AT NIGERIAN HIGH COMMISSION IN SOUTH AFRICA – MFA

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  Caroline Ameh / 1 day
• 0
• 2 min read

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that electricity has been restored to the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, after an earlier disconnection due to outstanding utility bills. According to a statement signed by the Ministry’s Spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the Mission has informed the Ministry that all outstanding bills have now been paid and normal electricity supply resumed. Recall that the power outage occurred on Monday, February 2, 2026, when the City of Tshwane cut electricity to the Nigerian diplomatic mission over unpaid municipal utility charges. The city’s Executive Mayor, Nasiphi Moya, announced the action on social media under its ongoing #TshwaneYaTima campaign a debt‑recovery initiative targeting institutions and individuals with long outstanding accounts. The move drew widespread attention online, with many commenters on social platforms questioning how a high commission could fall into arrears on basic utility bills. Others argued that the mayor’s public disclosure of the debt risked straining diplomatic relations. The incident sparked strong reactions online and from public figures. Some critics described the disconnection as an embarrassment to Nigeria’s international image, saying it reflected deeper governance and administrative issues within the foreign service. They noted that several Nigerian diplomatic missions have operated without substantive ambassadors for extended periods, potentially affecting oversight and resource management. In the statement, the Ministry expressed gratitude for the prompt resolution and emphasized its commitment to ensuring the smooth operation of Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad. It also reassured Nigerians that steps are being taken to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.