Naija Blog reports that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning to property owners in Abuja who have failed to pay their outstanding ground rent, vowing to begin sealing off defaulting properties across the city.

Speaking during his monthly media chat with selected journalists in Abuja, Wike expressed frustration over the persistent non-compliance of property owners, despite the extended grace period granted by President Bola Tinubu.

“Mr. President said two weeks, [but] we are more than three months [since the grace period]. That is Nigeria for you,” Wike remarked.

President Tinubu had earlier intervened by appealing to the FCT Administration to offer defaulters an additional two weeks to fulfill their ground rent obligations. However, Wike lamented that many property owners had failed to take advantage of the leniency, prompting the administration to take decisive action.

“We have just finished a programme. I am going to seal up all those properties; I’m going to seal them up,” the minister declared.

He emphasized that the non-payment of ground rent amounts to tax evasion and deprives the government of critical funds needed for development.

“You can’t deny us the taxes we use for development. Pay us the taxes that you are supposed to pay, you said, ‘No,’” he said.

Wike added that while some property owners have complied with the directive, others have continued to flout it, insisting that such disregard for civic obligations would no longer be tolerated.

“We have listened to Mr. President. In his wisdom, he said, ‘Give them two weeks, give them two months.’ We have done that… If you have not complied, if you have not paid, we are going to seal it up. This is what we cannot continue to allow in this country,” he warned.

The FCT Administration is expected to commence enforcement measures in the coming days, targeting property owners who remain in default.