By Huldah Shado
A tense war of words has erupted between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Senator Ireti Kingibe over the recent sealing of properties in Abuja due to unpaid ground rent.
Senator Kingibe, who represents the FCT in the Senate, condemned the enforcement as unconstitutional and excessive. In a statement issued on May 26, 2025, she criticized the mass shutdown of buildings, including offices of key institutions such as the Peoples Democratic Party Secretariat and Access Bank, as a violation of the rights of residents and business owners.
“No Nigerian’s property can be lawfully seized or sealed solely due to ground rent default,” Kingibe stated, describing the actions of the FCT Administration as “indiscriminate” and “insensitive” to the prevailing economic hardship.
She promised to push for legislation that ensures future enforcement efforts follow due process.
In response, Wike’s office issued a sharp rebuttal through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.
He accused Kingibe of demonstrating “ridiculous ignorance” of the Land Use Act and turning the issue into a personal grudge against the minister.
“It is embarrassingly ignorant for a serving senator to be unaware of the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act,” Olayinka said. “Ground rent is not optional. It’s a legal obligation tied to land ownership, and failure to pay it over 10, 20, even 43 years cannot be brushed aside.”
He further alleged that Kingibe’s opposition was politically motivated, advising her to “purge herself of hatred for Wike” rather than protect defaulters under the guise of defending legality.
Olayinka insisted that non-payment of ground rent constitutes a breach of the Certificate of Occupancy and is sufficient ground for revocation.
“Would Kingibe, as FCT Minister, fold her arms while landowners refuse to pay what is legally due for over four decades?” he asked.
The face-off comes on the heels of President Bola Tinubu’s recent intervention, which granted defaulters a 14-day grace period to clear their debts.
Senator Kingibe urged FCT residents to remain calm and law-abiding, assuring them that she is fully engaged with the issue.
“We are committed to ensuring that dialogue, justice, and due process prevail,” she said.
