The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has attributed the disconnection of electricity to the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, to delays in the passage of Nigeria’s 2026 national budget.

Power to the mission was cut on Monday by the City of Tshwane, whose Executive Mayor, Nasiphi Moya, confirmed the action on X, stating: “#TshwaneYaTima: We’ve disconnected electricity at the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They owe the city for utility services.”

Moya shared a photograph of the embassy building alongside the post.

Responding to the blackout, MFA spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, explained that the unpaid bills were due to funding constraints caused by the budget delay.

He said, “If they say Nigeria has not paid in January, that means there is no money for Nigeria to pay in January because the budget has not been passed.”

He added, “The Nigeria mission in Pretoria has not paid because money has not been sent to them since the budget is not yet in place.”

Ebienfa further stated that the ministry was engaging with both the mission and South African authorities to resolve the matter promptly.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware of the unfortunate development regarding the electricity blackout. We are in touch with our mission in Pretoria and we are trying our best to make sure the outstanding bills are paid and the electricity is restored with immediate effect to ensure the smooth running of the mission,” he said.

Ebienfa noted that the situation is systemic, explaining that foreign missions can experience funding shortages whenever there is a delay in budget approval.

“The issue is that our budget has not been passed. If budgets are not passed, missions don’t have any money,” he said.

The incident has also renewed concerns about the absence of substantive ambassadors at several Nigerian missions.

On this, Ebienfa said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has so far approved ambassadorial appointments to three countries only — the UK, France and the US. South Africa was not in the mix. The President will send ambassadors whenever he feels it’s appropriate.”

Since President Tinubu assumed office, several Nigerian embassies and high commissions have operated without ambassadors, creating administrative and operational challenges, including funding and staffing constraints.

Ebienfa, however, assured that efforts were ongoing to clear the Pretoria mission’s arrears and restore electricity as soon as possible.

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The Senate will on Tuesday resume deliberation on the controversial Electoral Act amendment bill, amid mounting public outrage and pressure over delays that critics say could jeopardise the credibility of the 2027 general elections.

The PUNCH gathered that the upper chamber plans to conclude work on the bill and transmit it this week, following the inauguration of a seven-member ad hoc committee mandated to harmonise senators’ positions and resolve outstanding issues in the proposed legislation.

The committee was constituted last Thursday after a three-hour closed-door executive session during which lawmakers subjected the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill to further scrutiny.

The committee, which had three days to conclude the assignment, is expected to submit a report today (Tuesday).

Announcing the decision, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said the panel was established to synthesise lawmakers’ views and address concerns raised during plenary debates.

The committee is chaired by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Niyi Adegbonmire, with Adamu Aliero, Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Tony Nwoye and Titus Zam as members.

Akpabio said the committee was given a maximum of three days to complete its assignment and submit its report by Tuesday to allow the Senate resume consideration of the bill.

Although the House of Representatives had already passed the bill, Akpabio stressed the need for due diligence before the Senate’s concurrence.

“This is a very important bill, especially as it is election time. We must take our time to ensure justice is done to all, so that we do not end up at the tribunal,” he said.

According to the report of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, a clause-by-clause review showed that the proposed amendments would strengthen electoral integrity, enhance transparency and boost public confidence in the electoral system.

The committee, therefore, recommended the passage of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2025, as amended, noting that the reforms would expand voter participation, curb electoral malpractice and strengthen the institutional capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Earlier, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele outlined key provisions of the bill, describing it as a major step toward improving electoral credibility and safeguarding institutional independence.

He said the bill introduces stiffer sanctions for electoral offences such as vote-buying, including fines of up to N5m, a two-year jail term and a 10-year ban from contesting elections.

The proposed law also prescribes tougher penalties for result falsification and obstruction of election officials, introduces electronically generated voter identification — including a downloadable voter card with a unique QR code — and mandates the electronic transmission of polling unit results.

Bamidele added that the bill recognises the voting rights of inmates, mandates INEC to register eligible prisoners, standardises delegates for indirect party primaries and requires the release of election funds at least one year before polling day.

He said the reforms were aimed at guaranteeing credible, transparent and secure elections beginning with the 2027 general polls, subject to approval by at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly, in line with constitutional provisions.

The renewed push by the Senate comes amid sustained criticism from legal experts, opposition parties and civil society groups over what they describe as unnecessary delays in amending the Electoral Act.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, had last week slammed the National Assembly for repeatedly postponing passage of the amendment bill, warning that the delays could undermine the credibility of the 2027 elections.

Speaking on Arise News on Sunday, Falana criticised the Senate’s decision to set up another committee to review a bill already passed by the House of Representatives in December 2025.

“Clearly, from the conduct of both chambers of the National Assembly, it is very clear that the members simply want the status quo retained.

“This rigmarole is meant to give the impression to Nigerians that the proposed Electoral Act is being addressed,” Falana said.

He argued that the bill contains critical reforms, including electronic transmission of results, tougher penalties for vote-buying, voting rights for inmates and sanctions against financially induced delegates, which address long-standing gaps in Nigeria’s electoral framework.

“We operate in an atmosphere of reckless impunity. The only politically important issue today is the gale of defections in Nigeria, yet the National Assembly focuses on time-wasting amendments,” he said.

Falana also recalled that key reforms such as the establishment of an electoral offences commission, recommended as far back as 2008, were yet to be implemented.

“Last election, we were subjected to a national disgrace when three leading presidential candidates claimed to have won. That election petition lasted 10 months. Why should it take two years to put these provisions in law?” he asked.

In a similar vein, major opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress, Labour Party and New Nigeria People’s Party, have raised concerns over what they described as a lack of urgency by the National Assembly in amending the Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 polls.

The parties warned that further delays could erode public confidence in the electoral process and threaten the credibility of the elections.

The Senate, however, insists that the newly constituted ad hoc committee will fast-track the process, as lawmakers intensify efforts to conclude work on the bill in the coming days.

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The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has reiterated its commitment to the enforcement of building regulations as Lagos continues to experience rapid urban growth and construction activities across the state.

Speaking on the agency’s mandate, the General Manager of LASBCA, Gbaye Florence, said the agency exists “to protect lives and property by enforcing building regulations and standards that guide construction activities across the state.”

She noted in a Monday statement that as one of Africa’s fastest-growing megacities, Lagos requires strong regulatory oversight to ensure that development remains safe, orderly, and sustainable.

LASBCA operates under the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, which empowers it to regulate building construction, monitor compliance with approved plans, and prevent structural failures.

According to the GM, building regulations are “not designed to hinder development but to provide a framework that guarantees structural stability, environmental safety, and public confidence.”

She stressed that all categories of buildings—residential, commercial, or industrial—must meet minimum safety standards before and during construction.

She noted that central to the agency’s work is the enforcement of the Lagos State Building Code, which prescribes technical standards for design, materials, workmanship, and construction methods.

These standards, the agency noted, cover areas such as structural integrity, fire safety, ventilation, electrical installations, sanitation, and accessibility.

She explained that compliance ensures buildings can withstand environmental pressures like heavy rainfall, soil movement, and increased occupancy, which are common in Lagos.

She further stressed that “no building project is allowed to commence without proper approval of architectural and structural designs by qualified professionals.”

According to her, submitted designs are carefully reviewed to ensure conformity with approved land use, zoning regulations, and safety requirements, a process she said protects developers from future losses while safeguarding occupants and neighbouring communities.

The General Manager stated that “compliance must go beyond paper documentation to actual practice on construction sites,” adding that the agency officers regularly inspect projects to ensure adherence to approved plans and use of appropriate materials. Any deviation, she said, is promptly addressed to prevent structural compromise.

On enforcement, Florence maintained that while the agency prioritises guidance and corrective measures, it will issue stop-work orders and apply sanctions when violations pose serious risks, noting that “building regulations are non-negotiable when public safety is at stake.”

She also highlighted LASBCA’s adoption of digital platforms for plan submissions and monitoring, which she said had reduced delays and improved transparency.