Officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have sealed Wadata Plaza, the Abuja building housing the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), over unpaid ground and tenancy rent.
According to Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, the property is owing ₦7.6 million in ground rent arrears accumulated over 28 years.
“On Wadata Plaza being used as PDP National Secretariat, ₦7,603,504.31 is being owed as 28 years’ ground rent,” Olayinka disclosed via his Facebook page on Monday.
Wadata Plaza is one of several buildings sealed on Monday by the FCTA. Others include offices of a commercial bank, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), all located in Wuse Zone 5.
Olayinka further revealed that the FIRS had failed to pay ground rent for 25 years.
The move comes months after the FCT administration raised concerns over more than ₦6 billion in lost revenue due to widespread non-payment of ground rent by property owners over the last decade.
Last week, the FCTA announced the revocation of titles to 4,794 properties across high-value districts such as the Central Area, Garki, Wuse, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape, over non-payment of ground rent for periods ranging from 10 to 43 years.
In a joint statement by Olayinka and the FCTA’s Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, the administration said it would begin exercising its right of ownership over the affected properties starting Monday.
“The exercise will be carried out strictly in line with existing laws and regulations, regardless of current occupants or previous ownership,” the statement added.
