BREAKING: Wike Takes Over PDP Headquarters
By Usman A Harande
In a shocking move, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has announced that the FCTA will commence the takeover of properties in Abuja over unpaid ground rent, effective Monday, May 26, 2025. The development has sent shockwaves through the city, with many property owners scrambling to understand the implications.
At the center of the controversy is the permanent headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), currently under construction in Abuja’s Central Business District. The party’s property is among the 4,794 titles revoked for failure to pay ground rent, with some defaults dating back 43 years. The PDP’s headquarters alone owes several years of unpaid ground rent, leading to the revocation of its land in March.
According to a joint press briefing held in Abuja, the affected properties are located in prominent areas, including the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape districts. The FCTA officials, including the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka; Director of Land Administration, Mr. Chijioke Nwankwoeze; and Director of Development Control, Mr. Mukhtar Galadima, disclosed that the owners of the affected properties had defaulted on over N6.96 billion in ground rent.
The officials emphasized that the government will exercise its rights of ownership on the affected landed properties without consideration as to ownership. “As from Monday, next week, the government will begin to exercise its rights of ownership on the affected landed properties,” the officials said. “It will be purely in line with extant laws and regulations guiding the process.”
The revocations were carried out under Section 28(5)(a)(b) of the Land Use Act, which empowers the government to reclaim land when the terms of occupancy are violated. The FCTA had given a 21-day grace period for owners with debts under 10 years, which has now expired.
The Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, explained that the ground rent is due for payment on the first day of January each year, without demand. “There was no court decision on the revocation, and as such, the FCTA is not restricted in the discharge of its lawful functions on the affected properties,” he added.
The Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, confirmed that enforcement would begin on Monday, with the FCTA sealing off the affected properties and restricting access.
The takeover of the PDP headquarters and other properties has raised questions about the future of these properties. Will the FCTA re-auction the properties or take over their management? What happens to the existing structures and investments on the properties? These are questions that only time will answer.
This development serves as a wake-up call for property owners in Abuja to prioritize payment of ground rent. Failure to comply can result in revocation of land titles, as seen in this case. Property owners are advised to settle their debts to avoid losing their properties.
The FCTA’s move is part of a broader effort to increase revenue generation and enforce compliance with land regulations. Property owners are encouraged to visit the FCTA’s website or offices to verify their outstanding debts and make payments.
Stay tune….
Public Eye News will continue to monitor this development and provide updates as more information becomes available. In the meantime, property owners in Abuja are advised to take necessary precautions to avoid falling foul of the law.
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