Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has revoked the land occupancy rights of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat in Abuja.
In a letter dated March 13 and addressed to the PDP national chairman, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, director of land administration at the FCT administration, said the revocation was due to “non-payment” of ground rent.
Ground rent is a yearly fee land owners pay for the right to occupy and use their property.
Nwankwoeze said the PDP has failed to pay the annual ground rents due on the property 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 bills and ground rents on their properties,” the letter reads.
“You would please note that the said breaches by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat (MISC 81346) run contrary to the provisions of 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.”
On Monday, Lere Olayinka, the special assistant to Wike on public communication, said the minister has revoked 4,794 land titles over alleged non-payment of ground rents.
He said 8,375 property owners in Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape “have not paid ground rent in the last 43 years”.
Olayinka claimed all attempts to make defaulters settle outstanding bills and ground rents yielded little response, noting that several allottees failed to comply with the directive.
He told newsmen on Tuesday that the FCTA had begun to send letters to the property owners regarding the revocation of their land titles.
“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 added.
