The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has taken a significant step by revoking the land lease for the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) located in Abuja. This decision, which has garnered attention, follows a formal notice issued on March 13, 2025, detailing the grounds for the revocation. In the letter, titled “Notice of Right of Occupancy with file no: MISC 81346,” Wike outlined that the PDP had failed to fulfill its financial obligations regarding the property for a substantial period, specifically two decades, from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025.
The revocation notice was signed by Chijioke Nwankwoeze, the Director of Land Administration within the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). According to Wike, the PDP’s continued non-payment of annual ground rents, despite multiple reminders published in national dailies and electronic media, constituted a serious breach of the terms and conditions associated with their Right of Occupancy. The letter explicitly stated that the revocation was executed under the authority granted by the Land Use Act of 1978, which governs land tenure and use in Nigeria.
Wike emphasized in the letter that the PDP had been notified numerous times about the outstanding ground rents, yet the party did not take the necessary steps to clear the debts. The Minister’s letter noted, “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.” He pointed out that these breaches were in direct violation of Section 28, Subsection 5 (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act, which outlines the responsibilities of landholders in the Federal Capital Territory.
As a consequence of this revocation, Wike declared that the FCTA would take immediate possession of the PDP national secretariat until all outstanding bills are settled. This decision is part of a broader initiative by Wike’s administration to enforce compliance with land payment regulations, particularly as it relates to properties within the Federal Capital Territory. Earlier, Wike had approved the revocation of 4,794 land titles across the FCT due to non-payment of ground rent, which has reportedly accumulated to an estimated N6.9 billion over more than 40 years.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, it was revealed that a total of 8,375 property owners in various districts, including Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape, had failed to pay their ground rents for up to 43 years. The total owed by these property owners was reported to be approximately N6,967,980,119. Olayinka highlighted that the FCTA had made numerous publications in national newspapers and announcements through broadcast media since 2023, urging all defaulters to settle their outstanding bills and ground rents.
Wike’s actions reflect a commitment to ensuring that all landowners within the FCT adhere to the legal requirements concerning land payments. He reiterated that the payment of ground rent is established by extant legislation and is explicitly required in the terms and conditions of the grant of Right of Occupancy. As such, it is due for payment on January 1 of each year, without the need for additional demands. This revocation serves as a clear message to other property owners about the importance of fulfilling their legal obligations to avoid similar repercussions.
