The Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., arguably the world�s most powerful city, has joined a litany of foreign missions causing national embarrassment to the country due to neglect, THISDAY has learnt.
The last maintenance exercise carried out on the building located at International Drive, NW, was in 2004, a source stated.
THISDAY gathered that an Israeli firm was hired to maintain the gigantic architectural masterpiece when it was purchased in 2003.
The firm reached an agreement with the Nigerian government to be paid $1 million yearly but was disengaged in 2004 when funding was stalled.
The air conditioning system in the conference hall where the ambassador receives visitors has broken down, making it uncomfortable to hold discussions there.
Members of staff were forced to leave the door ajar last week, when the new Ambassador, Brigadier General Oluwole Rotimi (rtd), received leaders of some socio-cultural organisations in the US. It was over 70 degrees outside.
“It is very disturbing that we are not maintaining our embassy building due to non-allocation of funds for regular maintenance. Since it was opened in 2003, the building has not witnessed any major maintenance work to keep it in shape,� said the Ambassador.
The wooden pillars that support the building in the lounge area and on the third floor is rotting away, THISDAY discovered.
Also, the wood panels outside has not seen polish for years. It looks drab. The automatic door that lets visitors into the lounge area has broken down.
THIDSAY gathered that requests for more funds to pay for maintenance met a brickwall.
“To worsen matters, we now have a chancery that we cannot proudly use to host diplomatic functions because of the state of the facilities. We are always reluctant to host the monthly meetings of African diplomats here to save our face and national image,” Rotimi said.
The ambassador added that “diplomacy is not cheap”.
Jul152008