The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has responded sharply to comments made by Senator Ireti Kingibe regarding the recent sealing of properties in Abuja over unpaid ground rent.
The sealing order, which affected multiple properties including the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was part of an enforcement drive initiated under Wike’s directive. However, controversy erupted after President Bola Tinubu instructed that all such properties should be unsealed and granted a 14-day grace period for compliance an order which Wike has yet to act upon.
Senator Kingibe, who represents the FCT under the platform of the Labour Party, criticized the property closures, describing them as illegal and excessive. She argued that failure to pay ground rent should not lead to sealing or land seizure, pointing instead to fines or surcharges as the appropriate legal penalties.
In a rebuttal issued through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Minister Wike accused Senator Kingibe of harboring personal animosity and attempting to score cheap political points.
Olayinka dismissed the Senator’s remarks as “ignorant” and “illogical,” suggesting that her comments reflect a misunderstanding of the Land Use Act, which governs land administration in Nigeria.
“Land allocation comes with conditions,” Olayinka stated. “One of the key terms is the annual payment of Ground Rent. If someone fails to meet this requirement, the government is well within its rights to enforce compliance.”
He further criticized Senator Kingibe for allegedly ignoring the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act, which outlines the government’s authority to revoke land titles under specific conditions.
“For Senator Kingibe’s information,” Olayinka added, “Section 28, Subsections (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act clearly states that a Statutory Right of Occupancy can be revoked if the holder breaches any term contained in the Certificate of Occupancy, including failure to pay ground rent.”
The FCT Minister’s aide went on to mock the Senator’s stance, saying, “By her logic, if landowners ignore ground rent payments for decades, the government should simply applaud them rather than enforce the law.”
He emphasized that as a legislator, Kingibe should be well-versed in the legal framework surrounding land use, rather than making statements that mislead the public or undermine lawful enforcement efforts.
Context Behind the Dispute
The friction between Senator Kingibe and Minister Wike adds another layer to ongoing tensions in Abuja’s political landscape. Kingibe has consistently criticized Wike’s leadership style and decisions since his appointment by President Tinubu. Their latest clash centers around the enforcement of ground rent obligations, which the FCT Administration has intensified in recent months as part of efforts to boost internally generated revenue and enforce urban policy compliance.
Ground rent is an annual fee paid by landowners for the legal occupancy of government-owned land. Non-payment over time can result in penalties, revocation of land titles, or property closure, as stipulated under the Land Use Act.
Legal Provisions at Stake
Under the Land Use Act, particularly Section 28, the government is empowered to revoke land rights in cases where property owners breach the terms of their Certificate of Occupancy which includes the payment of ground rent.
While critics argue for more leniency and better engagement with defaulters, proponents like Wike maintain that strict enforcement is necessary to uphold urban order, financial discipline, and legal compliance.
Conclusion
As the debate continues, the unresolved implementation of President Tinubu’s grace period order remains a key issue. Whether Wike will yield to presidential intervention or stand his ground on legal enforcement could shape not only the outcome of this particular dispute but also the broader dynamics of governance in the Federal Capital Territory.
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