By Adenike Lawal
A leading Nigerian diaspora group in the United States has raised alarm over the worsening condition of Nigeria’s diplomatic buildings in New York, urging the federal government to act swiftly.
In a recent statement, the Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN) decried the state of Nigeria House in Manhattan; home to both the Nigerian Consulate General and the Permanent Mission to the United Nations, describing it as “deplorable” and emblematic of long-standing government neglect.
OAN spokesperson Funmi Dike said the building’s central air conditioning and ventilation systems have completely failed, forcing staff and visitors to endure extreme indoor heat during one of New York’s hottest summers.
“This once-iconic structure, meant to project Nigerian pride and presence, has become a symbol of abandonment,” Dike said, adding that citizens, including the elderly and pregnant women are made to wait in sweltering, unsafe conditions for basic consular services.
Beyond the heat issues, OAN cited malfunctioning elevators, leaking pipes, stained ceilings, and outdated infrastructure, which they say have rendered the building unsuitable for diplomatic functions.
As a result, officials have resorted to holding high-level meetings offsite; a situation OAN described as diplomatically embarrassing.
“The inability to host meetings within our own mission is a diplomatic failure,” Dike said.
The group also highlighted delays in paying wages and allowances to both home-based diplomats and locally recruited staff, warning that some employees risk eviction due to unpaid salaries; a crisis made worse by New York’s high cost of living.
“This is more than inefficience; it’s a direct attack on the dignity of our foreign service officers,” Dike noted.
OAN said repeated appeals to the Nigerian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior have gone unanswered.
The group stressed that Nigeria House is not just government property but a crucial symbol of the country’s global presence.
“Its current condition is more than an eyesore; it’s a national disgrace,” the statement read.
OAN clarified that its public outcry is not a personal attack on any official but a call to action.
It urged the federal government to prioritize urgent renovations and ensure staff are paid promptly.
“We are simply asking for our representatives and our national image abroad, to be treated with the respect they deserve,” Dike said. “This should mark the end of neglect and the beginning of restoration.”
