By OBSERVERS TIMES
The national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Wuse, Abuja, was sealed by officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) at approximately 2:05 PM on Monday. The move is part of a broader FCTA campaign to reclaim 4,794 properties in Abuja’s prime districts over decades of unpaid ground rent.
FCTA officials arrived at the PDP secretariat, initially requesting to speak with management. However, the building was sealed almost immediately, triggering a brief protest from those present. After about 15 minutes of back-and-forth, the FCTA temporarily unsealed the premises to allow staff to retrieve their vehicles and personal belongings before re-sealing it.
Last week, the FCTA announced its intent to take possession of nearly 4,800 revoked properties whose ground rents had been outstanding for periods ranging from 10 to 43 years. This was communicated during a press briefing on Friday by Lere Olayinka, the FCT Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, alongside Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration, and Mukhtar Galadima, Director of Development Control.
According to FCTA officials, ownership of these properties, located in areas like Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape, has already reverted to the FCTA. They emphasized that the enforcement, which began today, would proceed “without consideration as to ownership” and strictly “in line with extant laws and regulations.”
The Director of Development Control confirmed that affected properties would be sealed and access restricted, with the FCTA to determine their future use. The Director of Lands dismissed claims of any court injunction preventing the FCTA’s actions. The FCTA is also reportedly compiling a list of properties with ground rent defaults between one and 10 years, for which a 21-day grace period has been given.
