The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked the land occupancy rights of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat in Abuja due to non-payment of ground rent.
In a letter dated March 13, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration at the FCT Administration, informed the PDP National Chairman of the revocation, citing the party’s failure to pay the required annual fees from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025.
“This is despite the many publications made by the FCT administration since 2023 in several national dailies and on electronic media requesting all allottees of plots in the Federal Capital Territory to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on their properties,” the letter stated.
Nwankwoeze emphasized that the PDP’s failure to comply violates Section 28, Subsection 5 (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act.
“I am to further inform you that the subject property (Plot No. 243 Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja) has thus reverted to the Federal Capital Territory Administration, and the Administration will take immediate possession thereof,” he added.
Confirming the broader crackdown on defaulters, Lere Olayinka, Special Assistant to Wike on Public Communication, disclosed that the minister had revoked 4,794 land titles over non-payment of ground rent.
“A total of 4,794 land titles were revoked over failure to pay ground rent for 10 to 43 years. If PDP and any other organizations are among, so be it,” Olayinka said.
He further revealed that 8,375 property owners in key areas, including Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape, had defaulted on payments for up to 43 years.
According to him, despite repeated efforts to encourage compliance, many allottees failed to respond, prompting the FCTA to begin issuing revocation letters to affected property owners.
