Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has ordered the sealing of the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, along with 4,793 other properties revoked by the FCTA in March 2025, starting Monday. This directive was announced during a press briefing by the minister’s aide on public communications, Lere Olayinka, alongside Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration, and Mukhtar Galadima, Director of Development Control.
Lere stated that ownership of the revoked properties in key districts such as Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape has reverted to the FCTA. From Monday, the government will begin asserting its ownership over the affected properties in line with applicable laws. The properties will be sealed and access restricted while the administration decides their future use. Addressing claims of ongoing litigation, Nwankwoeze clarified that no court ruling has halted the revocation, and the FCTA remains within its rights to act accordingly.
He added that a review of compliance records for those who defaulted on Ground Rent payments from one to ten years is underway. Once compiled, the government will take further action. The list of properties includes Wadata Plaza, where the PDP national secretariat is currently located, and the party’s new site at Plot 243 in the Central Area. Nwankwoeze clarified that Wadata Plaza is not owned by the PDP but by Samaila Mamang Ofu, who has been served the revocation notice at his registered address.
He also highlighted that the revocation exercise affects 4,794 titles, spanning government bodies, private organizations, and individuals. Institutions like NNPC, the Central Bank, NUC, the Federal Ministry of Environment, and Borno State Government are among those impacted. Lere recalled that the March 18 announcement concerned the revocation of land titles on which ground rent was unpaid for periods ranging from one to 43 years. With title ownership now reverted to the FCTA, government agencies will begin taking possession from May 26.
The FCTA is finalizing records on those who complied with the 21-day grace period for ground rent payment, with further action expected based on these records. The ground rent policy, anchored in existing laws, is due annually without prior notice. The PDP has not issued an official statement regarding the planned sealing, but in an earlier response to the revocation order, the party criticized the move as an attack on democratic opposition. National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba described it as a step toward totalitarianism, revealing that both the long-held Wadata Plaza and the under-construction secretariat had their rights of occupancy revoked.
Source : https://guardian.ng/
