Nigerian diplomats owing over $500,000 in parking tickets in New York

by Damilola Jagun

According to the United States’ Department of Finance, New York City is being owed over $16 million in unpaid parking tickets issued to foreign diplomatic vehicles.

Over 180 countries are in the list, which is topped by Egypt with nearly $2 million in outstanding debt as of this summer.

The Wall Street Journal says five countries owe more than $500,000: Nigeria, Indonesia, Brazil, Morocco and Pakistan.

Most of the debt is from tickets issued before 2002, and ever since then, the amount has been significantly reduced as a result of the city’s crackdown of unpaid parking tickets.