Speaking during the ceremony and subsequent inspection of the Judges Quarters and N5 Road in Life Camp , FCT Minister Nyesom Wike addre...
Speaking during the ceremony and subsequent inspection of the Judges Quarters and N5 Road in Life Camp, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike addressed recent controversies surrounding the enforcement of ground rent payments in Abuja.
“When I published names of ground rent defaulters, it wasn’t to embarrass anyone,” Wike said. “We simply need the money to fund these capital projects. If you don’t pay, infrastructure cannot be provided.”
The minister emphasized that FCTA’s federal allocation—just 1% of the national budget—is insufficient even to pay salaries, which now stand at over ₦13 billion monthly due to increased minimum wages.
“Assuming the FG gets ₦800 billion, Abuja only gets ₦8 billion. That’s not enough to pay salaries. So how do you expect us to build roads and houses if you don’t pay your dues?”
In a bold critique, Wike called out wealthy Abuja property owners for refusing to meet obligations they would never dare ignore abroad.
“These big men pay their taxes in London and the U.S. without delay. But in Nigeria, they want to be begged or chased. Here, they say ‘Give us time.’ But in London, they dare not say that. Why should Nigeria be different?”
“No poor man builds these luxury houses. If you can afford it, you should also afford your civic responsibilities.”
Wike further disclosed that the CN2 Road project, initially expected to take 12 months, was delivered in under 9 months, thanks to the efficiency of the contractors.
“This is what we mean by giving work to those who can deliver. See how property values here are now skyrocketing—₦200 to ₦300 million per plot—and yet people still try to avoid paying for development.”
He reaffirmed that the FCT administration will continue to name and shame tax defaulters not out of spite but in the public interest.
Final Word: Development Is Not Free
As Abuja’s infrastructure push gains momentum, both President Tinubu and Minister Wike appear united in their message: development requires sacrifice, discipline, and responsibility.
From roads and housing to healthcare and education, the administration is determined to deliver—but not without the backing of civic duty.
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