The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revoked the land where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat is situated in Abuja due to unpaid 20-year grant rent to the Federal Government.
Wike made the decision to revoke the opposition party’s land after the PDP leadership was said to have allegedly ignored the FCT administration’s continuous appeal for payment without tendering any reason for default.
The FCTA noted that PDP’s refusal to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for 20 years, from 1st of January 2006 to 1st of January 2025 amounts to contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Right of Occupancy to the property serving as it’s national secretariat.
In a document sighted on Tuesday and signed by Director, Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, it added that the said breaches run contrary to the provisions of Section 28, Subsection 5 (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act for the FCT.
The FCTA said: “In the exercise of powers conferred on him (Wike) under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, revoked your rights, interests, and privileges over Plot No. 243 within Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja.
“The revocation is in view of your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of the grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for 20 years, from 1st of January 2006 to 1st of January 2025. This is despite the many publications made by the FCT Administration since 2023 in several national dailies and on electronic media requesting all allottees of plots in the Federal Capital Territory to pay up every outstanding bills and ground rents on their properties.
“I am to further inform you that the subject property (Plot No. 243 Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja) has thus reverted to the Federal Capital Territory Administration, and the Administration will take immediate possession thereof”.
The revoked land, meanwhile, has been attributed to the leadership tussle between the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Minister who accused the opposition party of taking side with the governor against him in the state.