Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that he takes pleasure in stepping on the toes of the powerful, especially when enforcing rules on property ownership in Abuja.
Speaking during a media chat in Abuja, Wike warned that all property owners in the FCT who have not paid their ground rent must do so or face serious consequences. He said no one, no matter how highly placed, would be spared.
“I enjoy stepping on the toes of big men,” Wike stated boldly. “Those who think they are untouchable will find out that something will happen if they break the law.”
The minister emphasized that the era of selective enforcement and pampering of the elite is over in the FCT. “They want us to go after poor people, to demolish their houses and ignore the rich. I say no to that. Everyone must follow the rules,” he added.
Wike also criticized his predecessors, particularly those who served as FCT ministers, for lacking the courage to hold influential individuals accountable. Without naming names at first, he later mentioned the current Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, suggesting that he failed to enforce ground rent payments during his time in office.
“FCT was not working before because those in charge didn’t want to offend anybody. But we are getting results now because we are doing what they refused to do,” Wike said.
In a pointed jab at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wike said the party must pay the ground rent for its secretariat in Abuja like every other property owner. The former Rivers State governor, who has had a tense relationship with the PDP, used the moment to reiterate that no one is above the law.
As part of the crackdown, the FCT administration recently published a list of 9,000 ground rent defaulters in national newspapers. Property owners on the list have been asked to settle their debts or risk losing their assets.
Wike concluded by saying his administration is focused on fairness and rule of law, stressing that only those who do the right thing have nothing to fear.
