FCT Minister Wike Threatens to Take Over Properties of Ground Rent Defaulters

• FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has warned that Abuja property owners who fail to settle their outstanding ground rent by Tuesday risk losing their properties as enforcement begins Wednesday.

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has cautioned that property owners who fail to pay their ground rent in Abuja risk losing their assets, as the grace period ends on Tuesday.

Speaking after inspecting key projects in Wuse and Life Camp, Mr Wike said there would be no further extension on the payment deadline and that enforcement would begin on Wednesday.

He recalled that defaulters had already enjoyed both a two-week and presidential grace period granted four months earlier. According to him, it is regrettable that many Nigerians “do not want to abide by the rules.”

“You realise that when we started this enforcement, we also had a presidential intervention to give them two to three weeks more. It has been more than four months now, and we cannot carry out projects without people paying their taxes. We also made publications about extending the deadline, and of course, you know they like to rush.

“If you don’t go and enforce it, nobody will pay. So, we believe that this is the last time. We are not going to extend any further,” said Mr Wike. “If you have not paid, we will seal up the premises, and the property then becomes the property of the FCT Administration.”

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On infrastructure, he expressed satisfaction with progress on ongoing projects. He noted the construction of Road N2 by Levante Construction Ltd., linking the Central Area to Wuse, which is expected to be completed by May next year.

He also inspected Arterial Road N5, handled by Julius Berger, saying the contractor promised delivery by January 2026.

“We are very happy with the quality of the job done. In fact, where we are standing is amazing. So, we are happy that they have gone this far, and what we have seen,” he added.

Mr Wike disclosed that Transit Way N2 was being funded through emergency financing and assured that Arterial Road N5 had been captured in the 2025 FCT budget.

On bus terminals, he said operator selection was ongoing.

“You know it is a contract. The procurement is ongoing, and we also want to see the number of fleet that they have,” Mr Wike stated.