We will not extend deadline for ground rent payment - Wike
By Matthew Denis, Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a final warning to ground rent defaulters in the territory, declaring that there will be no further extension of the payment deadline.
Wike gave the warning in Abuja on Monday while addressing journalists after inspecting ongoing key infrastructure projects in the Wuse and Life Camp areas of the FCT.
He noted that both the two-week grace period and the subsequent Presidential intervention granted four months ago had long elapsed, stressing that the window for payment has officially closed.
Speaking on the enforcement strategy, the Minister revealed that the FCT Administration (FCTA) would move to seal the premises of defaulters, resulting in the forfeiture of such titles to the government.
“It is unfortunate that most Nigerians who complain do not want to abide by the rules. When we started this enforcement, we had a presidential intervention to give them two or three weeks more. But it is more than four months now, and we cannot carry out projects without people paying their taxes,” Wike stated.
He added, “We published the deadline extension, and you know people like to rush. If you don’t enforce it, nobody will pay. So, we believe that this is the last time. We are not going to extend it any further. If you have not paid, we will seal the premises, and the property then becomes the property of the FCT Administration.”
On infrastructure, Wike provided updates on 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.
He expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of the work.
“The first site, Road N2 connecting the Central Area to Wuse being handled by Levante Construction Ltd, is ongoing. The contractor has assured us that by the end of May or the first week of June 2026, they would have completed that very key road,” he said.
Regarding Arterial Road N5, Wike noted, “Julius Berger has assured us that by the end of January next year, they would have handed over this project. We are very happy with the quality of the job done; where we are standing is amazing.”
The Minister affirmed that while Transit Way N2 was being executed through emergency funding, the Arterial Road N5 is adequately captured in the FCT’s 2025 budget.
Responding to inquiries about the recently commissioned bus terminals, Wike explained that the procurement process to select operators is ongoing to ensure due process.
He expressed optimism that the selection would be concluded by the end of the year.