By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The FCT Minister Barr. Nysome Wike has warned that property owners who have refused to key into the presidential three weeks grace to pay up their ground rent bills risk transfer and forfeiture of their properties to the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCT.
Wike, on Monday, while speaking to newsmen after monitoring two project sites—N2 Wuse and N5 Life Camp—stated that there is no going back on enforcement and extension of the period to pay up the ground rent bills by defaulters.
The FCT minister said, Well, of course, you know what must be done If you have not paid the necessary bills for your the premises, the property will become the property of the FCT administration.”
He expressed disappointment that those concerned have refused to pay despite the initial presidential grace of three weeks, which unofficially extended to four weeks.
“You realized that when we started this enforcement, there was a presidential intervention to give them two or three weeks more. But it is more than four months now, and we cannot carry out these projects without people paying their taxes.”
“Certainly it has to be , because I have always said that it is unfortunate that most Nigerians who complain do not want to abide by the rules.”
“So we did also make publications of extending and extending and extending. And of course, you know, if you don’t go and enforce it, nobody will go and pay. So we believe that this is the last time we are not going to extend any further.”
Meanwhile, Wike said that going by the assurances of the contractors, Levant and Julius Berger construction companies, that the two road projects would be completed by May 2026.
“Well, the first inspection was of N2 that connects Central Area to Wuse, and that is being carried out by Levant. I saw the earthwork is ongoing, and the contractor has assured us that, God willing, by the end of May next year, which is the first week of June, they will have completed that road, which is very key, connecting Central Area to Wuse.”
“Here we are in the final stage of the N5, which is being handled by Julius Berger. For those of you who are familiar, we have been here several times when this bridge was ongoing. But today, we are on top of the bridge. And you have heard what Julius Berger said: By the end of January next year, they will have also delivered this project.”
The minister expressed satisfaction with the quality and the speed work done by the contractors.
“So we are hopeful. We are happy with the quality of the job done. In fact, where we are standing, we are so happy that they have gone this far. With the quality we have seen, we are very, happy.”
Furthermore, Wike explained that the ongoing projects are being executed under the 2025 budget and the emergency budgets.
“But what we are using for now is the FCT 2025 budget, which makes adequate provision for this N5. The one of the N2, which is linking the Central Area to Wuse, is done through emergency, because there is provision of funds under emergency. So we don’t have a problem about implementing the budget at all”, Wike disclosed.
