The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has repossessed Wadata Plaza, the building formerly used as the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following 28 years of unpaid ground rent.
According to the Director of Lands at the FCTA, Mr Chijoke Nwankwoeze, the move was a result of the revocation of the property’s land title, which was officially served to the owner, Senator Samaila Kofi, on 14 March. He explained that the property, located at Plot 1970, Michael Okpara Street, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, has now reverted to the FCTA after repeated non-payment of annual rent spanning nearly three decades.
Nwankwoeze stated that the revocation notice was delivered to Kofi’s registered address in Kaduna. He added that the FCTA deals strictly with registered property owners, not tenants, when executing such actions.
The PDP’s former headquarters is one of 4,794 properties whose titles were revoked in March due to a collective ground rent debt exceeding N6 billion. “This is the sixth property sealed so far. The enforcement will continue until all affected properties are addressed,” Nwankwoeze said.
Also Read: FCTA to Repossess 4,794 Properties Over Unpaid Ground Rent
Speaking on the development, Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, dismissed claims of political motives behind the move. He stressed that the exercise was purely administrative and in line with the Land Use Act.
“This is not a political witch-hunt. It’s a lawful enforcement of land regulations,” Olayinka maintained.
Other properties already sealed by the FCTA include a Total petrol station, Access Bank, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office, Ibro Hotel, and Mabuda Company Warehouse all located within Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.
