The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revoked the land of the Peoples Democratic Party?s national secretariat, which is situated in Abuja.

Wike issued the revocation notice in a letter dated March 13, 2025, titled, ?Notice of right of occupancy with file no: MISC 81346 in respect of plot no: 243 within central area district, Abuja,? on Tuesday.

It was signed by the Director, Land Administration (FTC), Chijioke Nwankwoeze.

According to him, the opposition party has failed to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025, despite many publications in several national dailies and electronic media to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on its property.

The letter read, ?I have been directed to refer to the above Right of Occupancy granted to PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT and inform you that the Minister of Federal Capital Territory has in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, revoked your rights, interests and privileges over Plot No. 243 within Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja.

?The revocation is in view of your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from 1st of January 2006 to 1st of January 2025. This is despite the many publications made by the FCT Administration since 2023 in several national dailies and on electronic media requesting all allottees of plots in the Federal Capital Territory to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on their property.

?You would please note that the said breaches by PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT (MISC 81346) run contrary to the provisions of Section 28, Subsection 5 (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act.?

The minister added that the FCTA administration he led will henceforth take immediate possession of the party secretariat until all bills are settled.

PUNCH Online reports that Wike earlier approved the revocation of 4,794 land titles in the FCT, over non-payment of ground rent, estimated at N6.9bn for more than 40 years.

This was contained in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, on Monday, following a press briefing by the Director of Lands, Chijioke Nwanwkoeze, on Monday.

According to the statement, a total of 8,375 property owners in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama and Guzape, had not paid ground rent in the last 43 years.

He further stated that the property owners owed a total of N6,967,980,119, while 4,794 land titles are in default of ground rent payment for 10 years and above.

Olayinka noted that the revocation followed multiple publications and announcements on broadcast media by the FCT Administration since 2023, adding that payment of ground rents was provided by extant laws.

?It should be noted that the FCTA made numerous publications in national newspapers and announcements on broadcast media since 2023, calling on defaulters to pay up all outstanding bills and ground rents. All these yielded little response, as several allottees failed to pay.

?It is important to state that payment of ground rent on landed properties in the FCT is founded on extant legislation. It is clearly stipulated in the terms and conditions of the grant of Right of Occupancy, and it is due for payment on the first day of January, each year, without demand.? (PUNCH)

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