Electricity supply has been restored to the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, following the settlement of outstanding municipal utility debts owed to the City of Tshwane, South African authorities have confirmed.
The diplomatic mission was plunged into darkness on Monday after the city disconnected power to the High Commission as part of enforcement actions against defaulting consumers. The move quickly drew public attention after Tshwane Executive Mayor, Nasiphi Moya, disclosed the development on social media.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Mayor Moya confirmed that the Nigerian High Commission had been disconnected due to unpaid electricity bills, noting that the city was enforcing its municipal regulations without exception.
“We’ve disconnected electricity at the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They owe the city for utility services,” Moya stated.
She added that electricity would be restored once the outstanding debt was cleared, stressing that diplomatic missions were not exempt from municipal service obligations.
Hours later, the mayor confirmed that the Nigerian High Commission had honoured its financial obligations, paving the way for the reconnection of electricity to the premises.
“We thank the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for honouring its debt to the city. The city will reconnect electricity,” she said.
Daily Trust gathered that power was subsequently restored after the required payments were made. As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian High Commission had yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
This development is not the first time Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in South Africa have faced electricity disconnection over unpaid utility bills. In 2023, City Power disconnected electricity to the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg over an outstanding debt estimated at R600,000 (about $35,000).
Similarly, in September 2025, the High Commission in Pretoria was reportedly disconnected again after accumulating unpaid electricity charges, prompting renewed concerns over the management of utility obligations at Nigeria’s foreign missions.
The recurring incidents have sparked conversations among Nigerians and policy observers about funding, accountability, and administrative efficiency within the country’s diplomatic missions abroad.
Despite the temporary disruption, the restoration of power is expected to allow normal diplomatic and consular activities at the High Commission to resume without further interruption.
