FCT minister Nyesom Wike says ground rent defaulters in Abuja may lose their properties, as the grace period elapses on Tuesday.

Mr Wike gave the warning in Abuja on Monday, shortly after inspecting key infrastructure projects in the Wuse and Life Camp areas. The minister, who said that there would be no further extension on the payment deadline, reminded defaulters that enforcement would begin on Wednesday.

He explained that the two-week and presidential grace periods granted to defaulters four months ago had long elapsed, stressing that this was the last opportunity for defaulters to pay.

According to him, it is very unfortunate that most Nigerians who complain do not want to abide by the rules.

“You realise that when we started this enforcement, we also had a presidential intervention to give them two to three weeks more. It has been more than four months now, and we cannot carry out projects without people paying their taxes. We also made publications about extending the deadline, and of course, you know they like to rush. 

“If you don’t go and enforce it, nobody will pay. So, we believe that this is the last time. We are not going to extend any further,” said Mr Wike. “If you have not paid, we will seal up the premises, and the property then becomes the property of the FCT Administration.”

While providing updates on the infrastructure projects inspected, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress and quality of work and noted the contractors’ assurances of timely completion.

“The first site we went to is the construction of road N2 that connects the Central Area to Wuse, which is being carried out by Levante Construction Ltd, and the work is ongoing. The contractors assured us that by the end of May next year, they would have completed that very key road connecting the Central Area to Wuse.

“We also went to Arterial Road N5, which is being handled by Julius Berger. For those of you familiar with this project, we have been here several times when the connecting bridge was ongoing,” he explained.

Mr Wike said Julius Berger promised  that by the end of January 2026, the project would be delivered.

“We are very happy with the quality of the job done. In fact, where we are standing is amazing. So, we are happy that they have gone this far, and what we have seen, he added.

The FCT minister disclosed that Transit Way N2 was being executed through emergency funding. He also assured adequate funding for the Arterial Road N5 in the FCT’s 2025 budget.

Responding to questions about when the commissioned bus terminals would become fully operational, the Minister explained that operator selection was ongoing.

“You know it is a contract. The procurement is ongoing, and we also want to see the number of fleet that they have,” Mr Wike stated. 

(NAN)