The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced a sweeping property takeover that includes the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over unpaid ground rent amounting to a staggering N6.96 billion. The enforcement will begin Monday, May 26, 2025.
The affected properties span key districts of Abuja, including the PDP’s permanent national headquarters currently under construction in the Central Business District. The land title for the PDP building was officially revoked in March 2025 after years of non-payment.
Speaking at a joint press briefing in Abuja, FCTA officials revealed that 4,794 land titles have been revoked due to long-standing ground rent defaults, some going back as far as 43 years. Representing Minister Wike at the media briefing were Mr. Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media; Mr. Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration; and Mr. Mukhtar Galadima, Director of Development Control.
The officials made it clear that all affected properties in high-value districts including Garki I & II, Wuse I & II, Maitama, Asokoro, Guzape, and the Central Area have now legally reverted to government ownership. They emphasized that the FCT Administration will, starting Monday, begin exercising full rights of ownership over the seized properties without regard to previous ownership or political affiliations.
“This process will be guided strictly by existing laws and regulations, especially Section 28(5)(a)(b) of the Land Use Act, which empowers the government to revoke land where the terms of occupancy are breached,” the FCTA clarified.
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The administration had earlier issued a 21-day grace period to defaulters, specifically for those whose debts had accrued over less than 10 years. That window has now officially closed, setting the stage for a large-scale recovery operation targeting prime real estate in the capital.
The inclusion of the PDP’s national secretariat in the list of defaulting properties has stirred political tension, with analysts speculating on the broader implications for the opposition party. However, the FCTA insists the operation is apolitical and purely driven by legal and financial considerations.
As the May 26 deadline approaches, Abuja residents and political stakeholders are watching closely as the Wike-led FCTA executes one of the largest property reclamation drives in Nigeria’s recent history.
