The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced that his administration will proceed with sealing properties whose owners have failed to settle outstanding ground rent payments, regardless of any attempts at blackmail. The minister made the declaration on Monday during his monthly media parley in Abuja, emphasizing his resolve to enforce compliance.
Wike revealed that the FCT Administration had previously published a list of 9,000 debtors in newspapers on May 23, 2025, urging them to clear their ground rent arrears, some dating back 10 to 43 years, to avoid property forfeiture. The administration began sealing and taking possession of approximately 5,000 non-compliant properties, including the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). President Bola Tinubu granted a 14-day grace period for defaulters to settle their debts, including penalties, but Wike noted that over three months later, many have yet to comply.
“I laugh, and it’s unfortunate. I thank God Mr. President said give them two weeks, one month. Well, it’s more than three months. That is Nigeria for you,” Wike stated. He stressed that the ground rent is critical for funding development projects in the FCT, adding, “You can’t deny us of the taxes we use for development.” The minister vowed to proceed with sealing non-compliant properties, saying, “If you have not paid, we are going to seal it. You can blackmail me all you want.”
Wike dismissed potential political backlash, asserting that while some property owners have complied, those who have not will face consequences starting as early as Tuesday, August 5, 2025. “There’s no magic of talking more. Some have complied. Tomorrow, by the time you start doing this, the normal politics will come out. I will not listen to that,” he said.
The FCT Administration’s crackdown on ground rent defaulters has sparked mixed reactions, with some residents urging leniency amid economic challenges, while others support the move as a necessary step to ensure fiscal responsibility. As the enforcement actions loom, the issue is likely to remain a focal point in Abuja’s administrative and political landscape.
