Ground Rent Clampdown: Wike, Kingibe Clash Again

A heated exchange unfolded on Thursday between Federal Capital Territory Minister 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 clampdown as unconstitutional and heavy-handed. In a statement shared on her official social media on May 26, she criticized the closure of numerous buildings, including offices of prominent institutions like the Peoples Democratic Party Secretariat and Access Bank, calling it a violation of residents’ and business owners’ rights.

Responding swiftly, Wike’s spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, accused Kingibe of ignorance regarding the Land Use Act and suggested her opposition was driven by political motives rather than legal concerns. Olayinka emphasized that ground rent is a mandatory legal obligation, pointing out that failure to pay for decades cannot be ignored. He urged the senator to move past personal animosity and stop defending defaulters under the pretense of legality.

Senator Kingibe maintained that while collecting ground rent is necessary, the method of sealing properties without due process is unlawful. She referenced both the Land Use Act and the Urban and Regional Planning Act, stating these laws prescribe fines or surcharges—not property seizure—as penalties for default. Kingibe described the FCT Administration’s actions as indiscriminate and insensitive to the current economic challenges faced by residents. She warned that such abrupt enforcement damages public trust and deepens economic hardship, promising to pursue legislative measures to ensure due process is respected in future actions.

Olayinka countered that Kingibe’s legal interpretation was selective, highlighting that failure to pay ground rent breaches the Certificate of Occupancy and justifies revocation under the law. He challenged whether Kingibe would remain passive if she were in Wike’s position, faced with landowners defaulting for decades.

The dispute persists despite President Bola Tinubu’s recent intervention, which granted defaulters a 14-day grace period to clear their arrears, temporarily halting further property closures. The clash reflects a widening political rift over policy enforcement in the nation’s capital. Senator Kingibe called on residents to stay calm and law-abiding, assuring them that the issue is under her active consideration and that justice and dialogue will be prioritized.