Unpaid Ground Rent: FCTA Seals PDP National Secretariat

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has officially taken over Wadata Plaza, the building that has served as the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following nearly three decades of unpaid ground rent.

According to Mr. Chijoke Nwankwoeze, Director of Lands at the FCTA, the takeover comes after the government revoked the land title for the property. The revocation notice was formally delivered to the property’s owner, Senator Samaila Kurfi, on March 14.

Nwankwoeze explained that the property, located on Plot 1970, Michael Okpara Street, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, was officially reverted to the FCTA after repeated failure to settle outstanding annual ground rent spanning nearly three decades.

He noted that the revocation notice was properly delivered to Kurfi’s registered address in Kaduna.

When asked whether the PDP had been notified, Nwankwoeze clarified that the FCTA did not deal with tenants, but only with the rightful property owners recorded in its database.

The property, he said, was among 4,794 titles revoked in March due to unpaid ground rent totaling more than N6 billion.

“The PDP property is the sixth to be sealed so far. This enforcement exercise will continue until all revoked properties are addressed,” he added.

Also speaking, Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, rejected any political interpretation of the action.

He emphasised that the operation was purely administrative and conducted in line with the provisions of the Land Use Act.

“This is not a political witch-hunt. It’s an enforcement of land administration regulations,” Olayinka said.

NAN