On Monday, a task force from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) shut down multiple facilities over unpaid ground rent.
According to the FCTA, the closures are part of a sweeping enforcement effort aimed at recovering ground rent arrears. The administration had announced the move last Friday, revealing it had already listed more than 4,000 properties as targets. Among them are the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headquarters, Access Bank and a Total filling station.
In a letter concerning the Access Bank property, FCTA’s Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, said the decision to revoke the land was due to a prolonged default on rent payments.
The letter, dated March 13, stated:
“The revocation is in view of your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of the grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for thirty-four (34) years.”
Though the letter was addressed to Rana Tahir Furniture Nigeria Limited—the original allottee—TheCable understands that Access Bank, located in Zone 6, Wuse, currently operates from the property.
A similar case was cited for FIRS, whose office in Wuse reportedly has a rent default spanning 25 years. Some FIRS officials said the seal did not affect the agency’s headquarters and that business is still ongoing. However, they were displeased with the move, calling it “malicious.”
“It is highly unprofessional of the Wike-led FCTA to close our office, disrupting staff from performing their duties when we have done nothing wrong—especially during a crucial week as we prepare to sign the Tax Reform Bills. FCTA, you have erred gravely; FIRS owes you nothing,” said Atoyebi, an official of the agency.
She insisted that FIRS has had no outstanding ground rent payments for the past 25 years and maintained that all dues had been settled through 2023.
“We have the evidence,” she emphasized.
As for the PDP headquarters, party members are not taking the seal lightly as the have come out to vehemently condemn the shutdown. Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum condemned the move, calling it an act of “irresponsibility” by the federal government.
“And I want to use this opportunity to tell you, as I’m sure you’re aware, that our office has been sealed. This is the height of irresponsibility from this government,” he said.
“If they are encouraging it, we are not going to take it lightly. In fact, they can come and arrest all of us. We are ready for that. But we condemn this in totality. It is the height of irresponsibility, and we will not tolerate it.
“They are trying to mar democracy, and this is unacceptable. We condemn it, and we will make sure they have us to contend with in the near future.”
Despite the backlash, FCTA is standing its ground. Lere Olayinka, senior special assistant on public communication and social media to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, defended the sealing of the PDP secretariat, stating that the action was legal.
The FCTA said the shutdowns are part of a broader land recovery campaign. More than 8,000 property owners reportedly owe a cumulative N6.97 billion in ground rent arrears in high-profile districts including Maitama, Asokoro, Garki and Wuse. Some of the debts date back over four decades.
