Wike Threatens to Seal Properties of Ground Rent Defaulters in Abuja

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has warned property owners who have failed to pay their ground rent, declaring that the government will begin sealing up defaulting properties in the nation’s capital.

Speaking during a media parley in Abuja, Wike reminded the public that more than three months have passed since President Bola Tinubu gave a two-week grace period for defaulters to comply.

He stressed that the FCT Administration would no longer tolerate the non-payment of taxes, which he described as critical for the development of the capital.

“We are now more than three months past the two-week grace period given by President Tinubu for defaulters of ground rent in the FCT,” Wike said. “Nigerians cannot deny us the taxes that are essential for developing the FCT.”

The Minister expressed disappointment at the attitude of some property owners, noting that while many Nigerians who own property abroad comply with tax regulations in those countries, they continue to default on their obligations at home. He emphasized that the FCTA would begin sealing off such properties as part of a broader enforcement drive aimed at boosting internal revenue and maintaining infrastructure within the territory.

Wike’s remarks come amid efforts to restore fiscal discipline and accountability within the FCT. The ground rent policy is a key revenue-generating mechanism used to fund roads, utilities, and other public services across the capital.

He reaffirmed that the administration was not interested in dispossessing citizens of their property, but rather in ensuring that legal obligations were fulfilled.

He warned that after the expiration of the extended grace period, defaulters would face strict penalties, including having their buildings sealed or, in extreme cases, their land titles revoked.

This crackdown builds on earlier actions taken by the FCTA, including the revocation of thousands of land titles earlier in the year due to long-term non-compliance with ground rent obligations.

The minister insisted that this new round of enforcement would be thorough and without bias, urging all affected individuals and organizations to settle their dues without delay.

As the FCTA intensifies efforts to enforce compliance, property owners in Abuja have been advised to review their rent status and resolve any outstanding payments to avoid government sanctions.