THE MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says ground rent defaulters in the FCT may lose their properties, as grace period elapses on Tuesday.
Wike gave the warning in Abuja on Monday, while addressing journalists shortly after inspecting ongoing key infrastructure projects in Wuse and Life Camp areas of the FCT.
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 the Presidential grace periods granted defaulters four months back, 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 is more than four months now, and we cannot carry out projects without people paying their taxes.
“We did also make 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.”
Speaking on the format the enforcement would take, Wike said officials of the FCTA would seal up the premises of defaulters, while the properties would revert to the FCT Administration.
“If you have not paid, we will seal up the premises and the property then becomes the property of the FCT Administration”, he explained.
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 said.
Wike said Julius Berger promised that by the ending 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 Minister disclosed that Transit Way N2 was being executed through emergency funding.
He also assured of adequate funding for the Arterial Road N5 in the FCT’s 2025 budget.
Responding to questions on when the commissioned bus terminals would become fully operational, the Minister explained that the process of selecting the operators 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,” Wike explained (NAN)
