FCT Minister Wike - Housing TV Africa

Wike’s Betrayal Of Abuja’s Green Soul

housingtv — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 21:22:09 +0000

“Wike’s impunity, defying courts while dooming gardens, isn’t anomaly; it’s accelerant. Heed the floods, the fevers, the fury: restore the greens, or watch Africa’s beacon flicker to ash. The Master Plan endures not as relic, but rebuke”.

BY EMMAN USMAN SHEHU

Abuja was born not only as a monument to power or a hive of bureaucratic ambition, but as a bold experiment in harmonious urban living. Conceived in the mid-1970s amid the ashes of Nigeria’s civil war and the clamour for a neutral capital, the city was envisioned by International Planning Associates—a consortium of American visionaries—as Africa’s answer to Brasília or Canberra: a meticulously orchestrated symphony of concrete and canopy, where gleaming government halls would nestle amid vast green expanses.

The Abuja Master Plan of 1979, a 5,000-page opus of foresight, decreed that 40 percent of the Federal Capital Territory’s 8,000 square kilometers be reserved for parks, forests, and green belts. These were no mere aesthetic flourishes; they were the city’s vital organs—ecological lungs, flood barriers, and psychic balm for a nation healing from division.

Yet, four decades on, that verdant promise lies in tatters, ravaged not by drought or pestilence, but by the calculated avarice of those entrusted with its guardianship. Enter Nyesom Wike, the pugilistic Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), whose tenure has morphed from a crusade against chaos into a carnival of selective impunity and mindless greed. Under his watch, the green soul of Abuja is being auctioned off—not for the public good, but for the profit of the powerful—while legitimate stewards of the land, operating within the law, face the bulldozer’s blade in brazen defiance of judicial decree.

This is not urban renewal; it is civic vandalism, a betrayal that risks condemning Nigeria’s capital to the fate of Lagos’s fetid sprawl or Kinshasa’s choked alleys. The irony is as thick as the dust clouds that now choke Abuja’s once-breathable air. Wike stormed into office in August 2023 vowing to “step on toes” and reclaim the Master Plan from the encroachments of past regimes.

“If you build on a green area, sorry, it will go down,” he thundered, casting himself as the avenging sheriff in a city overrun by land grabbers, speculators, and slum lords. Demolitions followed: shanties in Ruga, illegal mansions in Maitama, rogue eateries masquerading as parks. For a fleeting moment, residents glimpsed the Abuja of the planners’ dreams—a disciplined metropolis where the law bent for no one, not even senators or tycoons. But peel back the headlines, and a darker pattern emerges. Wike’s zeal, it turns out, is deliberately impartial; it spares the cronies while pulverising the compliant. Allocations of pristine green belts continue apace, often to politically wired developers, even as court orders shielding lawful gardens are treated as mere suggestions. This hypocrisy isn’t accidental; it’s the engine of a patronage machine that fattens elites at the expense of ecology and equity.

As of October 2025, with floods lapping at high-rises and temperatures spiking toward unlivable extremes, Abuja’s betrayal feels less like policy failure than premeditated sabotage. To grasp the profundity of this perfidy, one must first confront the sanctity of the Master Plan. Drafted in the shadow of Nigeria’s oil boom, when optimism briefly outshone corruption, the document was a radical departure for a continent scarred by colonial urban blunders. Abuja’s founders, led by architect Kenzo Tange’s influence and IPA’s rigorous hydrology studies, rejected the high-density horrors of older African capitals. Instead, they plotted a “city in a park,” with radial districts orbiting a central core, separated by emerald corridors that served quadruple duty: as carbon sinks, stormwater sponges, floodplains, and communal oases.

Consider the ecological imperatives. Perched in the Guinea Savanna, Abuja contends with erratic monsoons—up to 1,500 millimeters annually—and diurnal swings that can top 40 degrees Celsius. The green belts, totaling over 1,000 square kilometers, were engineered as nature’s HVAC: through transpiration, a single mature acacia tree cools its surroundings by 5-10 degrees, slashing the Urban Heat Island effect that turns cities into ovens.

They double as hydrological heroes, channeling the Gurara and Usuma rivers while absorbing 70 percent of rainfall, per FCDA estimates, preventing the kind of deluges that drowned Borno in 2022. Structurally, these zones enforced zoning rigor: no commercial eyesore abutting a quiet suburb, no high-rise eclipsing low-density havens. Aesthetically, they promised a “garden city” ethos, with tree-lined boulevards evoking Paris’s Champs-Élysées or Washington’s National Mall—spaces for the soul, where civil servants could jog off the stress of policy wrangles.

Public health was woven into this fabric too. The World Health Organization endorses 9 square meters of green space per resident for mental well-being; Abuja’s plan targeted double that, foreseeing a populace insulated from urban neuroses. Legally, these designations aren’t whims—they’re enshrined in the Federal Capital Territory Act of 1976 and the Land Use Act of 1978, rendering any diversion a breach of national charter. Violations aren’t tweaks; they’re treason against the social compact that lured ministries from Lagos in 1991, promising a capital worthy of Africa’s giant.

Yet, under Wike, this mandate has become a punchline. Despite his bombast, reports from the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners in February 2025 decried “ongoing conversions” of green plots to mixed-use estates, often rubber-stamped by FCT officials under ministerial nod.

In Wuse Zone 6, a once-vibrant garden at the Tunis-Bissau junction—approved for recreation—now sprouts club foundations, its utility corridors exposed to rupture. In Guzape and Maitama, pristine buffers vanish into luxury villas for the connected, while AMMC squads issue ultimatums to small-scale violators. Wike’s impunity peaks in cases like Sodic Parks and Gardens Ltd., a Life Camp haven operational since 2010 with full FCDA permits. Facing demolition threats from “corrupt elements” cloaked in officialdom, the outfit secured a High Court injunction in September 2025 barring interference pending resolution. Yet, as of this writing, bulldozers circle, emboldened by ministerial silence—a flagrant thumbing of the nose at judicial authority. If the enforcer of the law scoffs at courts, what hope for the rule-bound?

The toll of this green genocide is no abstraction; it’s etched in Abuja’s daily agonies. Environmentally, the city teeters on collapse. Impermeable concrete has usurped permeable soil, crippling hydrology: where green belts once sequestered 80 percent of runoff, paved precincts now funnel it into torrents. The 2024 rainy season saw flash floods claim 15 lives in Nyanya and Garki, submerging markets and bursting sewers that spewed cholera into the streets. Utility corridors—camouflaged as “undevelopable” greens—lie excavated, pipelines exposed like veins in an autopsy. Wike’s demolitions, while targeting shanties, overlook these systemic sins: a 2025 BusinessDay probe revealed over 200 green conversions since 2023, many in flood-prone valleys, priming the city for biblical inundations.

Thermally, Abuja is a tinderbox. Satellite data from NASA’s Earth Observatory charts a 3-degree Celsius UHI spike since 2015, correlating with a 25 percent green loss. Air conditioners hum incessantly, bloating Nigeria’s grid and household bills by 15 percent, per NEPA figures. Outdoor life—picnics in Millennium Park, strolls along the Usuma—fades into memory, supplanted by heatstroke wards overflowing at the National Hospital. Respiratory ills surge: particulate matter, unfiltered by absent foliage, now averages 65 micrograms per cubic meter, triple WHO limits, fueling a 20 percent asthma uptick in children.

Infrastructurally, the strain is Sisyphean. Short-term land sales—Wike’s touted “revenue boost”—yield peanuts against remediation bills. A single flood cleanup in Jabi cost N2.3 billion in 2024, dwarfing the N500 million from a Maitama green plot auction. Roads crack under overloaded drainage, power lines sag in deforested corridors, and traffic crawls as buffers dissolve into bottlenecks. Economically, it’s a boomerang: foreign investors, eyeing Abuja’s “planned allure,” balk at its creeping Lagosification. FDI inflows dipped 12 percent in 2025, per CBN data, as tales of revoked titles and erratic enforcement spook capital. Property values in once-premium zones like Asokoro erode by 8 percent annually, victims of amenity theft.

But the gravest casualty is governance itself. Wike’s selective sword—sparing River Park Estate’s irregularities while inaugurating probes that drag—erodes trust. When a minister preaches Master Plan piety yet green-lights crony estates, it cascades: petty grabbers in Utako cite precedent, while the poor are herded to peripheries like Durumi. Corruption festers; a 2025 ICPC audit flagged 150 suspicious allocations under Wike, netting N15 billion in untraced rents.

Social fissures widen: indigenous Gbagyi farmers, displaced for “development,” clash with enforcers, their ancestral greens now elite playgrounds. And the courts? Mocked. Sodic’s injunction, like others barring Wike from disputed Guzape plots, gathers dust as agencies “proceed with caution”—code for defiance.

No figure embodies this rot more vividly than Nyesom Wike himself. The erstwhile Rivers warlord, with his trademark vintage whiskey-corroded voce and bantamweight bravado, arrived in Abuja as a disruptor, pledging a “new sheriff” to tame the wild FCT. Revocations flew: 165 high-profile plots in 2023, snaring Peter Obi, BUA’s Abdul Samad Rabiu, even Julius Berger’s dormant judicial enclave. Ground rents were hiked, C-of-Os streamlined—reforms that, on paper, screamed accountability. Yet, scrutiny reveals a man unbound by his own edicts. While vowing “no sacred cows,” Wike has fattened his: in August 2025, he inaugurated committees to probe Land Use Act breaches, only for insiders to leak that River Park—a pet project of FCT insiders—escaped unscathed amid “irregularities.”

Worse, his disdain for courts borders on despotic. Sodic Parks, a model of Master Plan fidelity—its 5-hectare expanse a riot of bougainvillea and benches, hosting 10,000 visitors monthly without a whiff of illegality—sought judicial shield against marauding officials in 2025. The Abuja High Court obliged, issuing a stay that explicitly forbade “disruptive actions” pending adjudication. Wike’s response? Crickets, followed by veiled threats from Development Control thugs, who cite “national interest” to skirt the bench. This echoes broader patterns: in December 2024, a similar injunction halted sales on a Guzape green sliver, yet FCTA surveyors were spotted fencing it off weeks later. Protests in Wuse Zone 6, decrying garden-to-club flips, met riot police, not redress. Wike’s playbook is clear: demolish the defenseless, indulge the donors. A Daily Trust exposé in April 2025 tallied 300 green encroachments post-Wike, many in districts he tours with fanfare.

His impunity isn’t ignorance; it’s arrogance, the mark of a politician who views the FCT as personal fiefdom, not public trust. This selective enforcement fuels a vicious cycle. Legitimate operators like Sodic, investing N500 million in eco-tourism, shutter under threat, ceding space to illicit developers who bribe their way to permanence. The Nigerian Bar Association has petitioned the National Judicial Council over five such “Wike contempts” since 2024, warning of constitutional crisis. Yet, President Tinubu—Wike’s unlikely patron—utters nary a peep, perhaps wary of alienating the APC’s Abuja enforcer. The result? A capital where justice is for sale, greens are for the grab, and the Master Plan weeps in irrelevance.

Abuja’s salvation demands more than moratoriums; it cries for metamorphosis. First, an ironclad audit: empower an independent panel—ICPC-led, with civil society watchdogs—to map every green deviation since 1999, spotlighting Wike-era anomalies. Revoke all post-2023 allocations lacking ecological impact assessments, compensating only the blameless. Second, judicial fortification: enact FCT-specific contempt statutes with ministerial teeth pulled—let bulldozers halt at gavel’s fall. Sodic and kin must thrive, not tremble; their model—public-private greens pocked with solar-lit paths and community farms—could regenerate 500 hectares by 2030.Institutional bulwarks follow: insulate the FCDA from political puppeteering via fixed tenures and whistleblower shields. Divert “revenue” from green sales to a Green Restoration Fund, seeding urban forests with indigenous shea and baobab. Public buy-in is paramount: launch “Adopt-a-Park” drives, arming neighborhoods with legal cudgels against encroachers. And Wike? He must recuse from land decisions, his conflicts as glaring as his ego. If unyielding, Tinubu should summon him home to Rivers, lest Abuja become his tombstone.

Abuja was forged as prophecy: a city where nature and nationhood entwined, defying Africa’s urban entropy. Today, that vision gasps beneath concrete’s weight, its betrayal a mirror to Nigeria’s deeper maladies—power’s predation, law’s fragility, equity’s erosion. Wike’s impunity, defying courts while dooming gardens, isn’t anomaly; it’s accelerant. Heed the floods, the fevers, the fury: restore the greens, or watch Africa’s beacon flicker to ash. The Master Plan endures not as relic, but rebuke. Will the custodians listen? Or shall they, too, go down—with the city they sold?

Source: Forefrontng

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SDP Condemns Wike Over Allocation of Old Parade Ground to APC

housingtv — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 11:37:06 +0000

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has strongly criticized the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for allocating a portion of the Old Parade Ground in Area 10, Abuja, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the construction of its new national secretariat.

The party described the move as “the height of executive recklessness and abuse of power” and urged President Bola Tinubu to step in immediately to reverse what it called “a momentous error against national heritage and public trust.”

Speaking on the development, SDP National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, expressed deep concern that a landmark historically preserved for civic and cultural events was being handed over permanently to a political party. “This is a national monument that predates Eagle Square and holds symbolic value for our collective memory. To convert it into the property of a political party is unthinkable and unacceptable,” he said.

According to him, Minister Wike approved the excision and allocation of two hectares of the Old Parade Ground, identified as Plot 4742 in Cadastral Zone A01, Garki District, to the APC on August 8, 2025. He alleged that both the Right of Occupancy and Certificate of Occupancy were issued the same day, a move the SDP described as “highly irregular and suspicious.”

The party further claimed that the decision was taken with “unprecedented speed” and bypassed due administrative processes, with statutory fees reportedly waived. Aiyenigba alleged that Wike acted under the influence of President Tinubu, following his call at the APC National Executive Committee meeting on July 24, 2025, for a befitting secretariat for the ruling party.

“It is a national fraud if President Tinubu allows the FCT Minister, in his characteristic brashness, to convert a historic public facility like the Old Parade Ground into the personal asset of a political party,” Aiyenigba added.

The SDP also accused Wike of attempting to curry favor with the president through controversial decisions, including the recent renaming of the Abuja International Conference Centre after President Tinubu. “Rather than focus on delivering new world-class infrastructure, Minister Wike is busy converting national assets into political gifts. This is not only unpatriotic but also a gross violation of due process,” the party said.

Calling on Nigerians to resist what it described as the erosion of public trust, the SDP urged citizens not to “fold their hands and watch as our national heritage is gifted away with reckless abandon.”

The party reaffirmed its commitment to defending public assets and called on President Tinubu to act in the national interest by revoking the allocation of the Old Parade Ground. “The president must show leadership by correcting this grave misstep and restoring confidence in public governance,” it said.

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FCT Minister Denies Allegations of Land Allocation to Son

housingtv — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 07:32:31 +0000

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has denied reports alleging he allocated over 2,000 hectares of land in the highbrow districts of Maitama and Asokoro to his son.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, described the claim as “baseless, malicious, and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.”

According to the statement, no land—whether in Maitama, Asokoro, or elsewhere within the FCT—has been allocated to any of the Minister’s children.

“There is absolutely no truth in the report. It is part of an ongoing smear campaign being waged by individuals who are determined to discredit the Minister at all costs,” Olayinka said.

He questioned the credibility of those behind the report, describing them as “quack journalists lacking professional standards,” and challenged them to present verifiable evidence.

“Where in Maitama or Asokoro can one even find 2,082 hectares of unallocated land?” he asked. “The figures alone make the story questionable. This is why professionalism in journalism remains critical.”

Olayinka clarified that the only land mentioned in the reports was allocated to JOAQ Farms and Estate Limited, a registered agricultural firm, for farming purposes in Bwari Area Council—not in Maitama or Asokoro as alleged.

He further stated that even if members of the Minister’s family chose to legally acquire land in the FCT, they are entitled to do so like any other Nigerian citizen, provided the proper procedures are followed.

“For the record, no allocation has been made to any of the Minister’s children. The only allocation referenced is to a company that applied for and was granted land in Bwari strictly for agricultural use,” the statement added.

The Minister’s media aide urged members of the public to disregard the report, calling it a calculated attempt to distract from the ongoing reforms and infrastructure projects being implemented across the FCT under Wike’s leadership.

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Wike: Ground Rent Enforcement Aimed at Development, Not Embarrassment

housingtv — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 14:43:13 +0000

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated that the enforcement of ground rent payments and the recent publication of defaulters’ names are intended to fund vital infrastructure projects, not to shame property owners.

Speaking during the commissioning of the Mabushi–Katampe Collector Road (CN2) on Thursday, Wike clarified that the FCT Administration’s aggressive revenue drive is part of efforts to close funding gaps for capital development. The project, completed ahead of schedule, was inaugurated by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who represented President Bola Tinubu.

Wike noted that while some property owners have raised concerns about the public listing of those owing ground rent, the intention is to ensure accountability and generate revenue to sustain ongoing development.

“Paying ground rent is not about political affiliation or social class. It is about responsibility. The city must survive on internally generated revenue, especially since our federal allocation—just one percent—isn’t enough to cover even salaries,” Wike said.

He added that salaries for the FCT have risen above ₦13 billion, while monthly allocations hover around ₦8 billion, making revenue from property and land essential for sustaining infrastructure projects.

Criticizing the tendency of some affluent Nigerians to evade local taxes, Wike pointed out the contrast in behavior when abroad. “These same individuals pay taxes in London and America without excuses. But here, they resist payment and expect special treatment,” he said.

He emphasized that only wealthy individuals can afford high-value properties in the capital, and as such, they must contribute their fair share toward development. “The houses being built are not for the poor. So let’s be honest—if you can afford land here, you can afford your obligations,” he added.

Wike reaffirmed his resolve to continue publishing the names of defaulters to promote transparency and urged residents to support the FCT’s infrastructure drive.

Also speaking at the event, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu commended Wike for delivering on key projects within budget and ahead of time, describing him as a symbol of efficient governance.

“This project highlights our government’s focus on infrastructure as a driver of national development. We are committed to delivering real impact through transparent and timely project execution,” Kalu said.

He assured citizens that the Tinubu administration would continue to prioritize roads, housing, healthcare, and education as part of its Renewed Hope Agenda.

The newly commissioned CN2 Road connects Mabushi to Katampe and is expected to improve traffic flow and ease movement in the area.

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FCT Minister Confirms Progress on Water Projects for Abuja Satellite Towns

housingtv — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:51:48 +0000

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving access to potable water in satellite towns surrounding Abuja.

Wike made the announcement during the commissioning of the newly completed loops of the Greater Abuja Water Project, a major infrastructure development aimed at enhancing water supply beyond the city center.

He credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritizing inclusive development, noting that a key agreement signed during the President’s 2024 visit to China with the China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC) is already being implemented.

“This is a promise fulfilled,” Wike said. “During our visit to China with Mr. President, a crucial agreement was signed to bring clean water to rural communities across the FCT. That promise is now becoming a reality.”

AIHS 2025

According to the minister, procurement processes for the rural water projects are nearing completion. The next phase will involve expanding water access to underserved satellite towns, including Bwari, Kubwa, Karu, and others.

“These projects are not just focused on Abuja’s urban core. They are about equitable development—bringing essential services to every resident, no matter where they live,” he said.

Wike emphasized that the current administration is committed to timely delivery. Unlike the central water project, which took more than eight years to complete, he pledged that the new satellite town projects would be ready in a much shorter timeframe.

“Our goal is clear: by the third anniversary of this administration, we expect to commission these water facilities across FCT’s satellite communities,” the minister stated.

The expansion of water infrastructure is part of a broader agenda to improve quality of life in peri-urban and rural areas of Abuja, ensuring that residents have access to clean, reliable, and safe drinking water.

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Wike Renames Abuja International Conference Centre in Honour of President Tinubu

housingtv — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 17:28:22 +0000

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday unveiled the rechristening of the Abuja International Conference Centre, which will henceforth bear the name of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a tribute to his leadership and enduring influence on Nigeria’s governance landscape.

The announcement was made during the inauguration ceremony of the newly renovated facility, where Wike highlighted the transformation of the landmark venue and acknowledged the President’s role in its swift rehabilitation.

“This centre, now named after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has undergone a complete turnaround. It now stands shoulder to shoulder with world-class venues globally. This achievement was made possible within just eight months under the leadership of Mr President,” Wike stated during his address.

In addition to the rebranding of the main facility, several key halls within the complex were renamed to reflect the contributions of other high-ranking government officials. The newly designated halls now bear the names of Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Chief Justice of Nigeria Olukayode Ariwoola.

Wike emphasized that the decision to rename the halls was a recognition of the collaborative efforts among the executive, legislative, and judicial arms of government in supporting the development of the FCT.

“These leaders have played significant roles in backing the FCT administration’s initiatives. It is only fitting that their names are inscribed in a facility that symbolises unity and national progress,” he added.

Built in 1991 during a military regime, the Conference Centre had seen little in terms of upgrades until the recent intervention by the Tinubu-led administration. The Minister praised the swift completion of the renovation project and linked it directly to the President’s decisive leadership style.

Looking ahead, Wike also announced a policy shift concerning the use of the centre. In a move aimed at ensuring sustainable upkeep, all ministries, agencies, and individuals will now be required to pay for access to the facility.

“To maintain this standard, we must introduce a usage fee. There will be no exemptions. Whether it’s a wedding or an official event, users must contribute to its upkeep. This is how we guarantee that the facility remains in top condition,” he said.

The renaming and re-opening mark a new chapter for one of the capital’s most iconic venues, signalling a broader emphasis on accountability, development, and recognition of public service.

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Senator Kingibe Criticizes FCTA Over Property Sealing in Abuja

housingtv — Thu, 29 May 2025 15:09:55 +0000

Senator Ireti Kingibe has raised concerns over the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) recent sealing of properties over ground rent defaults, calling the move “legally questionable” and “insensitive to economic realities.”

In a statement issued on May 26, 2025, and shared via her verified X (formerly Twitter) account, the Senator representing the FCT emphasized that while tax enforcement is necessary, any action taken must comply with existing legal frameworks.

Kingibe noted that under Nigerian law, non-payment of ground rent does not automatically warrant the sealing or confiscation of property. Instead, she explained, the appropriate penalty should be in the form of a fine or surcharge—not a forced shutdown of premises.

The FCTA recently began sealing properties over unpaid ground rent, including prominent locations such as the PDP national secretariat and offices belonging to the National Agency for Trafficking in Persons, Access Bank, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service. The clampdown prompted a swift response from President Bola Tinubu, who issued a 14-day deadline for affected parties to settle their outstanding payments and penalties.

Senator Kingibe, however, cautioned against bypassing due legal procedures in enforcing land-related obligations. “Revocation or sealing of property must follow clear legal steps outlined in the Land Use Act and the Urban and Regional Planning Act, including provisions for notice and compensation,” she stated.

She further expressed concern that abrupt enforcement actions—especially those lacking proper notification or engagement—could exacerbate the financial strain already faced by residents and business owners.

“These practices not only threaten livelihoods but also risk weakening public confidence in our institutions,” she warned. “In a time when citizens are struggling with economic pressure, heavy-handed tactics may do more harm than good.”

The Senator assured FCT residents that she is in active discussions with relevant government bodies and exploring legislative measures to prevent overreach and ensure transparency. She stressed her commitment to upholding due process and advocating for fair treatment.

“I urge all affected parties to remain calm,” she added. “This issue is being taken seriously, and we are working to ensure a resolution that respects both the law and the dignity of every resident.”

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Wike Signals Ground Rent Hike Amid Clampdown on Tax Defaulters in FCT

housingtv — Wed, 28 May 2025 14:54:17 +0000

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has disclosed plans to review and potentially increase ground rent charges across Abuja, as part of a broader drive to improve revenue generation for infrastructure development.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday following an inspection of key projects in the capital, Wike decried what he described as widespread non-compliance with statutory land-related obligations, including ground rent some unpaid for up to two decades.

“The biggest challenge I face is not from building roads or hospitals it’s the refusal of property owners to fulfil their financial responsibilities to the government,” Wike said.

Crackdown on Defaulters Begins
The Minister’s remarks follow a high-profile enforcement operation that began earlier in the week. The FCT Administration (FCTA) commenced the sealing of prominent properties linked to ground rent arrears. Among those affected were the National Secretariat of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), a branch of Access Bank, and a TotalEnergies service station.

These enforcement actions have drawn sharp criticism from some quarters. Both the PDP and FIRS condemned the move as heavy-handed and politically insensitive. Nonetheless, the Presidency stepped in to de-escalate tensions.

President Bola Tinubu has since approved a 14-day grace period for affected property owners to settle their outstanding debts, along with associated penalties reportedly ranging from ₦2 million to ₦3 million depending on the property’s location within the capital.

“Abuja is Not an Oil-Producing State”
Wike defended the clampdown, stressing that Abuja’s developmental needs must be met through internal revenue, as the territory lacks oil revenue or large-scale federal allocations.

“People want lights, roads, water yet they resist paying the taxes that fund these services. Abuja depends on internally generated revenue. These obligations are not new; they’ve been in place for years and are the legal basis for land occupancy,” he explained.

The Minister also pointed to a culture of entitlement among affluent residents, some of whom, he said, own multiple properties abroad where tax compliance is strictly enforced a standard they often disregard at home.

“The same people who would never dare default in London or New York feel emboldened to ignore the law here,” Wike remarked. “We have not even increased the ground rent yet. But that’s about to change.”

Land Documentation and Revenue Drive
Wike further revealed that over 1,500 Certificates of Occupancy and Deeds of Assignment have been signed in recent weeks, as part of the administration’s push to regularize land titles and boost revenue collection.

He urged residents to pay their taxes and ground rents, emphasizing that compliance would directly translate into improved services and visible development across the territory.

“If everyone plays their part, the results will speak for themselves. That’s what we’re working hard to deliver,” the Minister concluded.

As the deadline for compliance approaches, the FCTA has made it clear that non-payment will carry legal consequences — signaling a new era of fiscal discipline and governance in Nigeria’s capital.

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Wike Reaffirms Tinubu Administration’s Commitment to FCT Satellite Towns

housingtv — Tue, 20 May 2025 14:08:28 +0000

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has restated the Federal Government’s commitment to accelerating the development of satellite towns within the territory, emphasizing that such efforts remain a key priority of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Wike gave the assurance on Saturday during an inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in Bwari Area Council, including the dualisation of the Ushafa–War College–Checkpoint Road.

He also visited the rehabilitation site of the Abuja International Conference Centre, underscoring the administration’s drive to revamp both urban and suburban infrastructure.

“We are not focused solely on the city centre,” Wike said during the inspection. “President Tinubu’s administration is equally committed to addressing the needs of satellite communities.”

The minister noted that similar inspection tours had recently been conducted in Gwagwalada and Kwali Area Councils, where major road and infrastructure works are ongoing. He also highlighted the dualisation of the Kuje–Gwagwalada Road as another example of the government’s balanced development approach.

“These projects demonstrate clearly that satellite towns are not being left behind. They are integral to our broader development vision for the FCT,” Wike added.

The minister’s comments come amid broader efforts to reduce infrastructure gaps and improve connectivity between Abuja’s city centre and its surrounding towns.

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Abuja Bus Terminals Set to Revolutionize City Transit – Wike

housingtv — Wed, 14 May 2025 09:34:14 +0000

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has said that the ongoing construction of bus terminals across Abuja is poised to significantly reshape the capital’s public transportation landscape.

Wike made this assertion while speaking with journalists during an inspection tour of several major infrastructure projects within the FCT. He expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work at the Mabushi and Kugbo bus terminals, two of the flagship projects under the initiative. The tour also included a visit to the road being constructed to serve the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal in Dakibiyu, Jabi District, as well as the access road to Kez Udezue Street off Banex-Kado Road in Mabushi.

According to the Minister, the bus terminals are designed not just to enhance mobility but also to improve urban order and security. “These terminals will eliminate the need for passengers to wait along roadsides,” Wike explained. “Commuters will board vehicles at designated terminals, where drivers and vehicles can be properly identified. This helps to tackle the menace of ‘one chance’ robberies and ensures better control of transportation in the city.”

Wike acknowledged that improvements have been made at the Mabushi terminal since his last visit, during which he had criticized the quality of finishing work. “There’s been notable progress,” he said. “I must commend the contractor for responding to feedback. The finishing looks much better now than it did before.”

When asked about the timeline for commissioning the projects in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second year in office, the Minister clarified that the decision would rest with the President. While the projects are expected to be completed around the anniversary period, he noted that they may not be formally inaugurated on May 29 itself.

Wike also credited the steady execution of infrastructure projects in the FCT to disciplined financial management and consistent backing from President Tinubu. He emphasized that the Administration remains committed to awarding contracts strictly based on available resources, ensuring that no project stalls due to lack of funding.

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