Abuja, November 26, 2025 – The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has declared that the era of leniency toward ground rent defaulters in the nation’s capital is over. Speaking to journalists on Monday after inspecting major ongoing road projects in Wuse and Life Camp districts, the Minister announced that the FCT Administration will commence immediate sealing of properties whose owners have failed to settle outstanding ground rents, with such titles automatically reverting to the government.
“There will be no further extension. The window is closed,” Wike stated emphatically. He recalled that defaulters had initially been granted a two-week grace period, followed by a special four-month presidential intervention. Both deadlines, he stressed, expired several months ago.
“It is now more than four months since the presidential intervention, yet many people have still refused to pay. Nigerians like to complain, but they don’t want to follow the rules. We cannot execute capital projects if citizens and corporate entities refuse to pay their statutory taxes and levies,” the Minister said.
He warned that the FCT Administration would soon publish another list of chronic defaulters, after which enforcement teams from the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), the Department of Development Control, and the Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) would move in to seal the affected premises.
“If you have not paid your ground rent, we will seal the property, and it automatically becomes the property of the FCT Administration. This is the last warning,” Wike reiterated, adding that previous publications and public notices had given more than adequate notice.
The Minister explained that revenue from ground rents and other statutory payments is critical to funding the ambitious infrastructure renewal currently sweeping across the territory. “Without revenue, there can be no development. We have demonstrated political will by providing roads, schools, hospitals, and other facilities. The least residents and investors can do is to fulfill their own civic obligations,” he said.
Infrastructure Update: Major Roads Near Completion
During the same inspection tour, Minister Wike expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work on two strategic arterial roads that will significantly ease traffic congestion in the city centre and the rapidly growing Life Camp–Gwarinpa axis.
The first project, Transit Way N2, which links the Central Business District directly to Wuse District, is being executed by Levante Construction Limited. The dual-carriageway project, currently funded through emergency procurement, has reached 65 per cent completion at the time of the Minister’s visit.
“The contractor has assured us that the road will be fully completed and handed over between the end of May and the first week of June 2026. When finished, this road will drastically reduce travel time between the city centre and Wuse Zone 1–7,” Wike disclosed.
The second project, Arterial Road N5 (ring-fenced as Obafemi Awolowo Way) from Life Camp Junction through Dei-Dei to Karmo, is being handled by the reputable Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. The Minister described the quality of work as “amazing” and announced that the contractor has committed to delivering the project ahead of schedule.
“Julius Berger has promised to hand over this road by the end of January 2026. The asphalting is almost complete, street lighting and drainage systems are being installed simultaneously, and the road furniture is of international standard,” he said.
Unlike Transit Way N2, Arterial Road N5 is fully captured and funded under the FCT’s 2025 statutory budget, demonstrating the Administration’s deliberate effort to complete inherited and new projects despite revenue challenges.
Bus Terminals: Procurement Process in Final Stages
Responding to questions about the three ultra-modern bus terminals recently commissioned by President Bola Tinubu in Mabushi, Area 1 (near NNPC Towers), and Kugbo, the Minister clarified that the facilities are not lying idle.
“The terminals have been completed and commissioned, but we are following due process in selecting competent operators. The procurement process is at an advanced stage, and we expect to conclude it before the end of December 2025,” Wike assured residents.
He explained that the selected operators will manage parking, ticketing, passenger services, and commercial spaces within the terminals, while the FCT Administration retains oversight to ensure safety, cleanliness, and efficient public transport integration.
The terminals form a critical part of the Administration’s broader plan to restructure public transportation in Abuja, reduce dependence on private vehicles, curb indiscriminate parking, and restore the city’s master plan.
A Clear Message: Pay Your Dues or Lose Your Title
Minister Wike’s tone on Monday left no one in doubt that the FCT Administration is determined to instill financial discipline among landowners, many of whom acquired plots years ago but have treated ground rent payment as optional.
Industry sources estimate that outstanding ground rent arrears in the FCT run into hundreds of billions of naira, money that could have accelerated development projects across the six area councils and the city centre.
With the Minister’s latest pronouncement, property owners—ranging from private individuals to blue-chip companies and even diplomatic missions—now face the real prospect of losing their Certificates of Occupancy if they remain in default.
As Abuja continues its transformation into a modern, efficiently run capital city, the message from the FCT Minister is unambiguous: development and compliance must go hand in hand. Residents and investors who wish to continue enjoying the improved infrastructure must play their part by settling their statutory obligations without further delay.
