Nigerians in U.S. decry condition of Nigeria House, staff welfare
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, yesterday, held a strategic meeting with the outgoing United States Ambassador, Richard Mills (Jr), focusing on aligning both countries on shared commercial goals, deepening bilateral economic ties and reviewing key trade and investment frameworks.

The incoming U.S. Consul-General to Nigeria, Rick Swart, was at the meeting. This was as Nigerians in the U.S. called for urgent action regarding “the deteriorating state” of the Nigeria House in New York. The call was made in a statement yesterday by the spokesperson for the Organisation for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN), Ms Funmi Dike, in New York.

Oduwole acknowledged that Nigeria’s tariff on trade with the U.S. moved from 14 per cent to 15 per cent, clarifying that despite this adjustment, the country remains a favourable environment for U.S. investors.

She emphasised that the scale of duty-free machinery, equipment and services entering Nigeria from the U.S., underlined the mutually beneficial nature of the commercial exchange.

The minister highlighted the ongoing business-to-business engagements stemming from the commercial investment partnership launched on June 24, 2025 and set to culminate in a ministerial meeting on November 20, 2025, adding that it underscored the enduring relationship between both nations and their shared commitment to economic collaboration.

Reiterating Nigeria’s dedication to advancing food sovereignty, digital trade and competitiveness under President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Nigeria First Policy and Intervention’, she noted that recent fiscal and trade reforms yielded measurable results in stabilising the economy and setting it on a growth trajectory.

In his remarks, Mills Jr reaffirmed the goal of the U.S. to deepen its trade relationship with Nigeria, Africa’s largest commercial market, highlighting the substantial U.S. investments already in the country.

According to Mills Jr., the incoming Consul General, Rick Swart, would play a vital role in furthering the agenda. OAN, a leading Diaspora body committed to the welfare and progress of Nigerians in the US, said it was “compelled to draw urgent and serious attention to the deplorable condition of the property.”

The iconic skyscraper, located in the heart of Manhattan, houses both the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations (UN) and the Consulate General of Nigeria in New York.

The statement reads: “This imposing structure, once a symbol of national pride and diplomatic strength, has now become a metaphor for systemic neglect and administrative irresponsibility. In recent weeks and months, the building has deteriorated to a condition unworthy of the great nation it represents.

“Foremost among the challenges is the complete failure of the central air-conditioning and ventilation system in a building architecturally designed without cross-ventilation or operable windows. During one of the hottest summers recorded in New York City, Permanent Mission and Consulate staff are forced to work in suffocating, oven-like conditions, relying on hand-held fans strapped to their bodies.”

According to OAN, applicants – including the elderly, pregnant women, children, and Nigerians who travel long distances across the U.S. – are subjected to these inhumane conditions while waiting for consular services, describing the situation as not just inconvenient but dangerous.

“We must not wait until embarrassing images of the deplorable condition of Nigeria House are widely circulated on social media before taking action,” the organisation warned.

OAN stressed that the building’s decaying infrastructure – including poor maintenance, plumbing problems, unreliable elevators, stained ceilings and outdated fixtures – reflects an embarrassing lack of foresight and priority by those responsible for the upkeep of Nigeria’s diplomatic missions.

Swart pledged to advance the principles of free and fair trade that benefit businesses on both sides and reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to expanding investment and trade opportunities with Nigeria, in alignment with broader strategic goals.

During the meeting, both countries committed to building on their long-standing commercial relationship with renewed energy and aligned priorities.