Wike: We’ll increase ground rents — blackmail won’t stop us

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says he will not succumb to blackmail over the issue of unpaid ground rent.

On Monday, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) sealed off the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office in Zone 5 over an alleged failure to pay ground rent.

Other buildings were also shut as part of  enforcement efforts of the FCTA, which recently revoked 4,794 land titles in Wuse, Maitama, Asokoro, and Garki over “years of unpaid ground rents”.

FCTA officials said 8,375 property owners collectively owe about N6.97 billion, with some debts dating back more than 40 years.

Subsequently, President Bola Tinubu issued a 14-day ultimatum for defaulting property owners to pay their alleged ground rent debts.

PDP chieftains have criticised Wike for sealing off the its headquarters despite being a member of the party.

Speaking during an inspection of ongoing projects in Abuja on Tuesday, Wike said his greatest challenge remains the persistent refusal of residents to fulfil their tax obligations.

The FCT minister said plans are underway for a review of the ground rents for property owners in the city.

“People just want infrastructure and facilities; nobody asked where the funds are coming from. Abuja is not one of the oil-producing cities — we rely on taxes. These are not even new taxes; they are taxes that have been here for years,” he said.

“It is unfortunate that most elites own houses overseas. They know the implications of not paying your taxes. They know such houses are gone. When it comes to your country, you don’t want to do that simply because nobody wants to obey laws. Everybody thinks that there are no sanctions.

“We have not increased the ground rent; we are working towards that. We will do that.

“The president has given a window of two weeks; let nobody think that blackmail will stop us. We will do what we are supposed to do. We won’t give in to blackmail.”