The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked the land occupancy rights of his party’s national secretariat, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Abuja.
In a correspondence dated March 13, 2025, sent to the PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum, the Director of Land Administration at the FCT Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, based the revocation on the party’s failure to pay ground rent.
“You would please note that the said breaches by the People’s 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.
“I am to further inform you that the subject property (Plot No. 243 Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja) has thus reverted to the Federal Capital Territory Administration and the Administration will take immediate possession thereof,” the letter read.
The FCTA official claimed that the PDP had neglected to pay the annual fee, which is obligatory for landowners to occupy and use their property, over the past 19 years, specifically from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025.
Wike previously approved the revocation of 4,794 land titles in the FCT due to unpaid ground rent, which has accumulated to approximately N6.9 billion over more than 40 years.
This information was shared in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, on Monday, following a press conference held by the Director of Lands, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, on the same day.
A total of 8,375 property owners in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape have not settled their ground rent for the past 43 years, adding that these property owners collectively owe N6,967,980,119, with 4,794 land titles being in default of ground rent payments for 10 years or more.
