The FCTA insists that the action is part of an ongoing effort to ensure that landowners meet their obligations, as required by law.
Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has disclosed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has failed to pay ground rent for its national secretariat land in the Central Area of Abuja for 28 years, accumulating a debt of N7.6 million.
The revelation was made by the Director of Lands in the FCT, Chijioke Nwanwkoeze, during a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja. He addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding the recent revocation of land titles, including that of the PDP national secretariat.
The issue gained public attention after the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, revoked several land titles in Abuja, including the one allocated to the PDP. The decision was communicated through a revocation notice dated March 13, 2025, with reference MISC 81346, affecting Plot 243 in the Central Area District.
Following the revocation, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Deborah Ologunagba, condemned the move, accusing the minister of targeting the opposition party by revoking two of its properties: the Wadata Plaza and its new construction site.
However, Nwanwkoeze refuted the claim, clarifying that only one PDP-owned property—its Central Area land—was affected. He explained that the Wadata Plaza, which serves as PDP’s national headquarters, is not owned by the party but rather by Samaila Maman Ofi, who had acquired it legally from Wadata.
“The minister revoked 4,794 land titles in total, and PDP’s property was just one of them. The Wadata Plaza is not theirs—it belongs to an individual who bought it and registered it under his name,” Nwanwkoeze stated.
He further disclosed that the PDP’s 28-year unpaid ground rent, dating back to 1998, had prompted the FCTA to issue multiple notices requesting payment since 2023. However, after one and a half years of non-compliance, the minister took action.
Addressing the Wadata Plaza issue, Nwanwkoeze clarified that the revocation notice for that property was served to its rightful owner in Kaduna, not to PDP, as they are only tenants.
“You don’t serve a revocation notice to a tenant. The law requires it to be served to the legal title holder. That’s exactly what we did,” he explained.
Dismissing allegations of political bias, Nwanwkoeze emphasized that the revocation exercise affected multiple entities, including government agencies, private firms, and individuals who had failed to fulfill their financial obligations.
“There are landowners who have not paid their ground rent for over 40 years. Some have outstanding payments dating back 43 years, which is nearly half the duration of a standard 99-year land lease. This exercise was not about PDP—it was about enforcing compliance,” he stated.
The FCTA insists that the action is part of an ongoing effort to ensure that landowners meet their obligations, as required by law.
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