A Nigerian diaspora group in the United States has expressed concern over the worsening state of the Nigerian Consulate and Permanent Mission building in New York, citing infrastructural decay and poor staff welfare.
The Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN), based in the U.S., issued a public statement on Monday highlighting what it described as “deplorable and deteriorating” conditions within the Nigeria House, a high-rise building in Manhattan that houses Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations and the Consulate General.
The group’s spokesperson, Ms Funmi Dike, said the situation had become untenable and demanded urgent government intervention.
According to her, the building’s central air conditioning and ventilation system had completely failed, leaving both staff and visitors exposed to extreme indoor temperatures during one of the hottest New York summers on record.
“Permanent Mission and Consulate staff are forced to work in suffocating, oven-like conditions, relying on hand-held fans strapped to their bodies,” Dike said. “This imposing structure, once a symbol of national pride and diplomatic strength, has now become a metaphor for systemic neglect and administrative irresponsibility.”
The group said Nigerians seeking consular services, including the elderly, pregnant women, and children, were being subjected to “inhumane” waiting conditions.
“It is not just inconvenient; it is dangerous,” Dike said.
OAN also raised concerns about the broader state of disrepair at the facility. It pointed to plumbing issues, malfunctioning elevators, stained ceilings, outdated fixtures, and poor maintenance as indicators of neglect.
The organisation said the decline had made it difficult for Nigerian diplomats to host meetings within the premises.
“Diplomats, unable to host visiting dignitaries in such an environment, are now resorting to conducting bilateral and multilateral meetings outside the premises,” the statement said. “This is an indictment on our country’s global image.”
Beyond infrastructure, OAN noted delays in the payment of salaries and allowances to staff, including both Nigeria-based officers and locally recruited personnel. The group said the situation risked compromising staff welfare and could result in unprofessional conduct.
“This is unacceptable in any civilised society, let alone for officers posted abroad to represent Nigeria,” Dike stated. “In the U.S., where rent and mortgages are due monthly, this is a direct assault on their dignity and livelihood.”
The organisation said the consequences of non-payment could include homelessness or legal action, noting that this would reflect poorly on Nigeria’s international reputation.
According to OAN, previous appeals and official communications to relevant Nigerian ministries, including Foreign Affairs and Interior, have not been addressed.
“The Nigeria House in New York is not just another government property; it is Nigeria’s face in the international community,” the group said. “Its current state is not just a maintenance issue; it is a national embarrassment and a threat to Nigeria’s global standing.”
OAN urged the Nigerian government to prioritise repairs and ensure that staff salaries are paid promptly. It described its public statement as a call to action rather than an attack on any individual or agency.
“We expect that the institutions designed to serve and represent us will be treated with the seriousness they deserve,” Dike said. “Let this moment become a turning point where neglect gives way to action and where the dignity of Nigeria and its representatives abroad is protected and elevated.”
