The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Monday, said that the FCTA administration will seal up properties in Abuja whose owners have yet to pay ground rent.

Wike disclosed this during a media parley in Abuja.

He expressed dismay that, despite the grace period given by President Bola Tinubu, some of the owners had refused to clear their debts.

“Mr. President said two weeks, we are more than three months [since the grace period]. That is Nigeria for you.

“We have just finished a programme. I am going to seal up all those properties; I’m going to seal them up.”

The minister said that the government would no longer allow property owners to deny it the taxes needed for development.

“You can’t deny us the taxes we use for development. Pay us the taxes that you are supposed to pay, you said, ‘No’.

“We have listened to Mr. President. In his wisdom, he said, ‘Give them two weeks, give them two months.’ We have done that.

“Some have done that. Some have refused to comply,” Wike said.

He said he would not listen to those who would accuse him of playing politics or discouraging investors when the FCTA seals the affected properties.

“If you have not complied, if you have not paid, we are going to seal it up. This is what we cannot continue to allow in this country,” he added.

Officials of the FCTA had sealed the PDP headquarters, also known as Wadata Plaza, in Abuja in May during the enforcement of the revocation of 4,794 properties for non-payment of ground rent, which ranged from 10 to 43 years.

Properties owned by government institutions, corporate organisations, and individuals were also affected.

Defaulters were later granted a 14-day grace period to settle their ground rents, along with associated penalties, following Tinubu’s intervention.