The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning to individuals and institutions defaulting on ground rent payments, vowing to enforce full compliance regardless of status or influence.
Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Monday, the no-nonsense minister made it clear that high-ranking elites would not be shielded from the law.
> “I derive joy in stepping on the toes of big people,” Wike said defiantly. “They must obey the rules like everyone else.”
He criticized what he described as a hypocritical culture among Nigeria’s elite — individuals who admire structure and discipline abroad but return home only to disregard simple civic obligations.
“They travel abroad and see how those societies work. But when they return, they refuse to follow basic rules. That will no longer be tolerated,” he stated.
Wike signaled the end of an era in which powerful individuals routinely evaded their statutory responsibilities, particularly concerning land administration.
“This time, something will happen,” he warned, hinting at imminent enforcement measures against defaulters.
The Minister’s remarks come amid a broader reform drive aimed at improving revenue generation and restoring order to Abuja’s land management system. At the heart of this effort is the enforcement of ground rent — a legal obligation for all holders of statutory land titles within the FCT.
Wike’s tough stance is in line with his administration’s emphasis on accountability, transparency, and a functional capital territory where laws are not only made but enforced.
