Wike warns ground rent defaulters, says no grace period, lands will be reallocated

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning to ground rent defaulters in Abuja, stating there will be no further extension for payments beyond the January 3, 2025 deadline.

Wike clarified that his administration’s primary goal was not to repossess lands but to ensure compliance with tax payments, which he emphasized are critical for the territory’s development.

Speaking on Tuesday after inspecting several ongoing projects, including the 15-kilometer Apo-Wasa Road, the Court of Appeal Complex in Jabi District, and the Saburi-Dei Dei Road, Wike highlighted the importance of ground rents as the FCT’s primary source of revenue.

“Our interest is not to have the lands back. Our interest is for them to pay so we can use the funds for the development of the FCT,” Wike said. “We’re talking about roads—how will you get the roads done without people complying and paying? I don’t think we will give another grace period. After the deadline expires, we will reallocate those lands to other interested people.”

Wike also addressed controversies surrounding the published list of debtors, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who denied owing ground rents. He explained that only those with a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) could prove payment, as a Right of Occupancy (R of O) merely signified land allocation, not ownership.

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“If you have paid, it means you’ve collected your C of O. The R of O is just an allocation document,” he said. “If someone produces receipts proving they’ve paid, there will be a remedy. This system was in place before we came on board, and the Land Department and AGIS generated the data.”

Wike refrained from engaging directly with the Speaker’s claims, instead urging defaulters to present evidence of payment to avoid penalties.

Responding to criticism about his administration’s activities, including allegations of excessive demolitions, Wike dismissed detractors and reaffirmed his commitment to his duties.

“Nothing distracts me. I am very focused. People will always complain, but such complaints won’t stop us,” he said. “Our focus is delivering development to the people of the FCT, whether through road construction or other projects.”

During the project inspections, Wike stressed that timely tax payments are essential for sustaining development in Abuja, which lacks other significant revenue sources. He urged compliance from land allottees, highlighting the administration’s commitment to transparency and fairness while ensuring the funds are directed toward improving infrastructure and services.

As the January deadline looms, the minister’s message is clear: compliance with ground rent obligations is non-negotiable, and defaulters risk losing their allocations. The FCT administration, Wike said, remains resolute in its mission to build a modern and functional capital city.

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