Kehinde Fajobi
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated that his administration’s focus is not on reclaiming lands from ground rent defaulters but on ensuring payment of taxes to fund the development of the territory.
Wike made this clear on Tuesday after inspecting projects in the FCT, including the 10-lane, 15-kilometre Apo-Wasa Road, the Court of Appeal Complex in Jabi, and the Saburi-Dei Dei Road.
When asked about extending the January 3, 2025, deadline for ground rent payments, Wike ruled out any further extensions.
“As to whether there will be another grace, I don’t think we will do that. Nigerians don’t like to comply,” he said.
“These allocations were done more than 10 years ago. It was not as if it was done during our time. Abuja does not have anything other than property to tax for development.
“Our interest is not to have the lands back; our interest is for them to pay so we can use the funds for the development of the FCT.
“Now, we are talking about roads. How will you get the roads done without people complying and paying? After it expires, we will reallocate all those lands to other interested people.”
Addressing claims by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who denied owing ground rents after being listed among defaulters, Wike clarified that the administration was only acting on system-generated records.
He explained that only those with Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) were exempt from being considered debtors.
“R of O is like an allocation of land where you go and pay for your C of O. When you don’t have the C of O, it means that you have not paid,” he said.
He added that those with receipts proving payment would be exempted.
“If there are people who have paid and attached their receipt to show that they have paid, in such cases, yes, there’d be remedy.”
On criticisms of his activities in the FCT, Wike stated, “I have never complained of distractions. Nothing distracts me. Even if people are complaining, it is part of confidence.
“People must complain, but such complaints cannot distract us. We are very focused.”