Wike Vows to Seal Properties of Ground Rent Defaulters

By our Correspondent

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Nyesom Wike, has reiterated his resolve to seal properties belonging to individuals and organisations that have failed to pay their ground rent.

During his August monthly media chat held in Abuja on Monday, the Minister declared that the grace period earlier granted by President Bola Tinubu had expired, and that firm action would now be taken against defaulters.

President Tinubu had issued a two-week ultimatum for the payment of outstanding ground rents, following the launch of a property-sealing exercise by the FCT Administration on May 26, 2025.

“You should know what I am going to do next. I thank God the President said two weeks; we are now at more than three months. That is Nigeria for you,” Wike remarked.

“We have just finished a programme commissioning projects. Very soon, we are going to seal all those properties. I am going to seal them up,” he added.

The Minister expressed frustration that many defaulters had not taken advantage of the leniency extended to them. He emphasised that without recovering the overdue payments, key infrastructure projects could not proceed.

“You can’t deny us the taxes we need for development. You are talking about the health sector now; you are talking about education. What have we done in other sectors, with what?” he asked.

“We have listened to Mr. President in his wisdom—he said give them two weeks, give them one month. We have done that. Some have complied; others have refused. You want these things? Then pay us the taxes you are supposed to pay, but you said no,” Wike stressed.

Anticipating political pushback, Wike warned that enforcement would go ahead regardless of public sentiment or media criticism.

“Tomorrow, when enforcement begins, of course the usual politics will come up. But I won’t listen to that.

“Let it be known: I won’t back down. If you haven’t complied, if you haven’t paid, we are going to seal your property. No amount of long talk or blackmail will change that. You can go on Arise TV and talk for hours—we are going to carry it out,” he said.