The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended the Abuja administration’s ongoing crackdown on ground rent defaulters, saying his actions are aimed at ensuring accountability from all property owners, including prominent political figures.

Speaking during a media chat in Abuja, Wike said he has no intention of sparing influential individuals or political leaders from enforcement actions, regardless of their status.

“I found out that most of them didn’t have the courage to annoy people, to step on toes,” Wike said, referring to past FCT ministers. “But I take joy when I step on the toes of big men; those who say nothing will happen but I say something will happen. It makes me happy.”

The former Rivers State governor specifically mentioned some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including Bode George, insisting that the party must settle outstanding payments for its national secretariat in Abuja.

Wike also criticised his predecessors, including Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, accusing them of failing to enforce rent collections on politically connected property owners in the capital.

“Look at what we are doing differently. People have said that FCT was not working, now it is working, which means I’m doing things that they refused to do,” he said. “All they want me to do is to make decisions against poor people, saying nothing will happen to them, but I say something will happen. That is why we are making results. If you don’t do the right thing, too bad. I don’t care.”

The FCT administration under Wike had earlier published the names of 9,000 property owners in default of ground rent obligations, warning them of impending forfeiture.
On May 23, 2025, the administration moved to reclaim about 5,000 properties that had not paid ground rent for periods ranging from 10 to 43 years. This included properties owned by high-profile organisations and political parties.

Among the properties listed was the PDP national secretariat, which the administration began steps to seal before President Bola Tinubu intervened by granting all defaulters a 14-day grace period to settle their debts and applicable penalties.