By Prosper Meneย
Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has strongly criticized the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for its ongoing practice of sealing properties over unpaid ground rent, labeling the actions as illegal and unconstitutional. In a press statement issued on May 26, 2025, the senator condemned the โindiscriminate and sometimes abruptโ sealing of properties, arguing that such measures violate legal procedures and exacerbate economic hardship for residents and business owners in the FCT.
The controversy started from the FCTAโs recent enforcement actions, which began on May 26, 2025, targeting properties, including high-profile establishments like the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), offices of the National Agency for Trafficking in Persons, Access Bank, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, for alleged non-payment of ground rent. Senator Kingibe, however, contends that the Land Use Act and the Urban and Regional Planning Act stipulate that penalties for non-payment should be limited to fines or surcharges, not the seizure or sealing of properties without proper legal recourse.
โThe indiscriminate sealing of properties, often executed without proper notice, engagement, or adherence to legal procedure, only serves to deepen the economic distress of individuals, families, and business owners already facing mounting hardship,โ Kingibe stated. She emphasized that any revocation of land titles must follow due process, including adequate notice and fair compensation where necessary, as mandated by Section 42 of the Land Use Act.
Kingibeโs remarks have sparked a public dispute with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, whose aide, Lere Olayinka, accused the senator of ignorance of the Land Use Act and harboring personal animosity toward the minister. Olayinka defended the FCTAโs actions, citing Section 28 of the Land Use Act, which allows the government to revoke a Statutory Right of Occupancy for breaches such as non-payment of ground rent. He argued that some property owners have failed to pay ground rent for up to 43 years, justifying the enforcement measures.
In response, Kingibe maintained her stance, vowing to protect the rights of FCT residents and ensure their sealed properties are reopened. โAs a senator, I will not turn a blind eye while residents are subjected to enforcement practices that contravene established laws and compound their suffering,โ she said. The senator is actively engaging with relevant authorities and exploring legislative avenues to address the issue, urging residents to remain calm and law-abiding.
The sealing of properties has raised more concerns about economic stability and public trust in government institutions in the FCT. Kingibe warned that such actions undermine livelihoods and threaten the regionโs fragile social and economic fabric. Her outspoken criticism aligns with her previous advocacy against arbitrary demolitions in Abuja, which prompted a Senate probe in December 2024 following her motion on the issue.
