Officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday afternoon sealed the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), located in the Wuse area of Abuja.
The sealing exercise reportedly took place around 2:05pm, catching staff and security personnel unawares. Eyewitnesses said FCTA officials arrived at the premises and instructed the security guard to call those in charge. However, before any meaningful contact could be made, the premises was sealed off.
The action sparked mild protests, prompting a brief reversal that allowed staff members to retrieve their vehicles and personal items. After about 15 minutes, the property was sealed again.
This development is linked to the FCTA’s ongoing enforcement of revocation orders on 4,794 properties across Abuja. The properties, located in areas such as Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape, were revoked over unpaid ground rent for periods ranging from 10 to 43 years.
During a press briefing last Friday, key FCTA officials, including the Director of Land Administration, Mr. Chijioke Nwankwoeze; Director, Department of Development Control, Mr. Mukhtar Galadima; and the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communication, Mr. Lere Olayinka, disclosed that the administration would begin reclaiming the affected properties from Monday, May 26, 2025.
They emphasised that the enforcement would be carried out strictly in line with existing laws and regulations, without exceptions based on ownership.
Mr. Galadima stated that the sealed properties would remain inaccessible until further notice, pending a decision on their future use.
Responding to questions about legal challenges, Mr. Nwankwoeze clarified that no court had issued any ruling stopping the revocations, and the FCTA was within its legal rights to proceed.
He added that a separate process is ongoing to assess compliance by other landowners who owe ground rent for durations between one and ten years. Those affected were earlier given a 21-day ultimatum to settle their dues.
The FCTA had earlier announced the revocation of land titles on March 18, 2025, citing widespread non-payment of ground rent as the reason.
