President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a firm warning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 4,793 other defaulters owing ground rent in Abuja, urging them to comply with the directives of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike—whom he referred to as “the landlord.”
Speaking on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, during the commissioning of the newly refurbished Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, the president stressed the importance of compliance with FCT regulations.
“You must obey what the landlord says. If you want to use this place, you are going to pay for it,” Tinubu declared.
His comments follow a wave of enforcement actions in the FCT. In March, Minister Wike revoked 4,794 land titles over non-payment of ground rent—some debts dating back more than 40 years, totaling nearly ₦6.97 billion.
According to a statement issued by Lere Olayinka, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, a total of 8,375 property owners in high-profile districts such as Central Area, Garki I & II, Wuse I & II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape had defaulted on payments for decades.
On May 26, 2025, the FCT Administration began sealing off properties that failed to comply. Among those affected were the PDP National Secretariat, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) offices, Access Bank, TotalEnergies, and Ibro Hotel, all located in Wuse Zone.
However, following public backlash, President Tinubu intervened, ordering a temporary suspension of the sealing operation and granting a 14-day grace period for defaulters to settle their debts.
Confirming the president’s directive, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration for the FCT, said:
“Today, May 26, 2025, we commenced enforcement on the 4,794 properties revoked for non-payment of ground rent ranging from 10 to 43 years.
Properties belonging to government agencies, corporations, and private individuals were affected, reflecting the administration’s resolve to act without bias. However, following the President’s intervention, all affected property owners now have two weeks to clear their outstanding dues, including penalties.”
The directive signals the Tinubu administration’s commitment to accountability, even as it enforces long-ignored property obligations in the capital.
