The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has warned ground rent defaulters in the city that there will be no further extension on the payment deadline, saying defaulters risk losing their properties from Wednesday.
Wike gave the warning in Abuja on Monday while addressing journalists shortly after inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects in Wuse and Lifecamp areas of the FCT.
He noted that the two-week and the Presidential grace period granted defaulters four months ago had long elapsed, stressing that this is the last opportunity for defaulters to pay.
According to the FCT Minister, “It’s unfortunate that most Nigerians who complain don’t want to abide by the rules. You realize that when we started this enforcement, we also had a presidential intervention to give them two, three weeks more. But it’s more than four months now and we cannot carry out projects without people paying their taxes.
“We did also make publications of extending the deadline and of course, you know they like to rush. If you don’t go and enforce it, nobody will pay. So, we believe that this is the last time. We are not going to extend any further”, he said.
Speaking on the format the enforcement was going to take, Wike said officials of the FCTA will seal up the premises of defaulters, while the properties will revert back to the FCT Administration. “If you have not paid, we will seal up the premises and the property then becomes the property of the FCT Administration”, he said.
Providing updates on the infrastructure projects he inspected, including the Transit Way N2 connecting the Central Business District to Wuse District and the Arterial Road N5 (Obafemi Awolowo Way) from Life Camp Junction to Karmo, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress and quality of work and noted the contractors’ assurances of timely completion.
The Minister said, “The first site we went to is the construction of road N2 that connects the Central Area to Wuse which is being carried out by Levante Construction Ltd, and the work is ongoing. The contractor has assured us that by the end of May next year, which is the first week of June, 2026, they would have completed that very key road connecting the Central Area to Wuse.
“We also went to Arterial Road N5 which is being handled by Julius Berger. For those of you familiar with this project, we have been here severally when the connecting bridge was ongoing. Today, we are on top of the bridge. The contractor, Julius Berger has also said that by January ending next year, they would have also handed over this project. So, we are hopeful.
“We are very happy with the quality of the job done. In fact, where we are standing is amazing. So, we are happy that they’ve gone this far and we are very happy with what we have seen”, he added.
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