Wike’s FCTA Seals Off PDP Headquarters
The headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Wuse area of Abuja has been sealed off. The building was sealed off at about 2:05pm on Monday. Officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had arrived at the place and asked the security guard to meet with those in charge, but before the security guards could make contact with the management, the place was sealed. The officials action had triggered protest and after back and forth for like 15 minutes, the building was temporarily unsealed for staff members to move out their cars and personal belongings, after which it was sealed again. Last week, FCTA had announced that it would soon take possession of the 4,794 properties revoked over non-payment of ground rent, for between 10 and 43 years. This was made known during a press briefing on Friday by the FCT Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze and Director Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima. At a press briefing, they had said “ownership of the revoked 4,794 properties in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama and Guzape districts, had already reverted to the FCTA, and as from Monday, next week, the government will begin to exercise its rights of ownership on the affected landed properties. “As usual, this will be done without consideration as to ownership of the affected landed properties. It will be purely in line with extant laws and regulations guiding the process.” The Director of Development Control explained that affected properties would be sealed up and access to them restricted as from Monday. He said the FCTA would decide what to do with the affected properties in due course. On the claim that some people went to court, the Director of Lands stated that there was no court decision on the revocation, and as such, the FCTA was not restricted in the discharge of its lawful functions on the affected properties. Nwankwoeze also disclosed that the FCTA was already compiling records of compliance and non-compliance of title holders that were in default of payment of ground rent for between one and 10 years, who were given a grace of 21 days to pay up. He said the government would act accordingly as soon as the records are fully complied and analyzed. He said “Recall that on March 18, 2025, we informed you of the revocation of 4,794 land titles in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama and Guzape districts. ”These 4,794 properties were among the total of 8,375 land titles on which ground rent was not paid from one year to 43 years. ”We did say then that consequent upon the revocation of these titles, ownership of the affected properties have reverted to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). ”As from Monday, May 26, 2025, the FCTA will begin to take possession of the affected properties, using relevant agencies of government.”
