The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has shut down Wadata Plaza, a building used by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its national secretariat.
Enforcing Nyesom Wike’s directive to take over several erring landed properties across the state, the FCTA recently revealed that the building was locked due to unpaid rent that has lasted for more than 2 decades.
Speaking to the press, Director of Lands at the FCTA, Chijoke Nwankwoeze, shared that the shutdown followed the revocation of the property’s land title, which was formally served on the property owner, Samaila Kofi, around March 14.
According to him, the building, which is situated at Plot 1970, Michael Okpara Street, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, was officially reverted to the FCTA after continuous failure to settle the outstanding yearly ground rent that has lasted 28 years.
Noting that the revocation notice was sent to Samaila’s registered address in Kaduna, he disclosed that the PDP is yet to be informed because FCTA deals directly with landlords who are recorded on its database, not tenants.
Chijoke claimed that the property was among 4,794 titles revoked in March due to unpaid ground rent totalling more than N6 billion.
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“The PDP property is the sixth to be sealed so far. This enforcement exercise will continue until all revoked properties are addressed,” he said.
Also speaking, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, maintained that the action of the FCTA should be seen as a political witch-hunt.
He insisted that the operation was an administrative decision conducted in line with the provisions of the Land Use Act, and it had nothing to do with politics.
“This is not a political witch-hunt. It’s an enforcement of land administration regulations,” he added.
Other sealed properties include a Total petrol station, Access Bank, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office, Ibro Hotel, and Mabuda Company Warehouse in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has demanded a public apology from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for closing down two of its Abuja offices.
Describing the shutdown as embarrassing and invasive, the Director, Facility Management Department of FIRS, Mr Tyofa Abeghe, revealed that the 25-year ground debt allegation by FCTA officials is false.
According to him, FIRS has already paid the alleged debt for two of its offices at No. 12 and 14, Sokode Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, Abeghe, and there is proof of payment after a demand notice from Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) dated September 2023.
He shared that after no treasury receipt was issued despite the payment, he immediately wrote a letter on the 19th of February, 2024, demanding that payment be confirmed and receipted, but he received no response.
Special Adviser on Infrastructure, FIRS, Kunle Ogidi, blasted FCTA officials, stating that they would’ve been aware that their ground rent was already paid in full if they did their due diligence.
A member of the FIRS Media Team, Dare Adekanmbi, also noted that FIRS has about 7 offices in Sokode Crescent alone, and it’ll be very senseless of them to pay the ground rent on others and continue owing for two.
“As a law-abiding agency, FIRS does not owe FCTA ground rent on any of its offices in FCT on anywhere, including the ones invaded by these officials.
For clarity, on the two offices sealed which are located on Plot 627, Sokode Crescent, a sum of N2, 364, 003.26 covering ground rent on the properties for the fiscal year 2000 to 2024 has since been paid.
FIRS has about seven offices in Sokode Crescent alone. Why are we going to pay ground rent on others and leave only two? Does that make sense?” Dare asked.
Other members of the media team, Collins Omokaro and Arabirin Aderonke Atoyebi, emphasised the need to promote inter-agency partnership to avoid future embarrassment that can be avoided.
They also apologised to the members of staff and taxpayers who were traumatised during the shocking invasion.
