FCT Minister Wike Defends Mass Property Sealing, Including PDP Headquarters

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has followed through on its threat to seal thousands of properties over unpaid ground rents, with the Peoples Democratic Party’s national headquarters becoming one of the most high-profile casualties of the enforcement drive.

At around 2:00 pm on Monday, FCTA officials padlocked the gates of Wadata Plaza, the PDP’s secretariat in Abuja’s Wuse Zone 5, as part of a sweeping operation targeting 4,794 properties with outstanding ground rent payments spanning 10 to 43 years.

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, speaking through his media aide Lere Olayinka, insisted the exercise was strictly about enforcing compliance rather than political targeting.

“We are not here for politics. If you are talking about political witch hunt, we have been to Ibro hotels, we have been to Access Bank, we have been to FIRS, we have been to Total Petrol Station, we are also still going to other places, and tomorrow we will go to other places,” Olayinka stated.

The minister emphasized the indiscriminate nature of the operation: “This exercise will continue as long as we are able to conclude the taking possession of those over 4,000 properties. So, are we also going to say all those ones that I mentioned are for politics?”

FCTA Director of Lands Chijioke Nwankwoeze provided documentation showing proper notification procedures were followed, particularly for the PDP property owned by Senator Samaila Mamman Kofi.

“Senator Samaila Mamman Kofi was duly served the revocation notice and out of abundance of caution, we also came here and pasted the revocation notice served on Samaila Mamman Kofi at his Kaduna address, the address on record,” Nwankwoeze explained, displaying copies of the March 14, 2025 notice.

The official disputed claims by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) about having paid ground rents for their sealed property, stating: “No, we keep good records…The owner of this property, Samaila Mamman Kofi, was owing 28 years ground rent. And then FIRS is 25 years…When you pay your ground rent, you will have to be issued with receipt of payment.”

The enforcement action continues as the FCTA maintains its stance that all property owners must comply with ground rent obligations regardless of their status or political affiliation.