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Wike Revokes Abuja Lands Belonging To Fayose, Emir Of Ilorin And Others
The FCTA is to commence enforcement action on the 1,095 properties following the expiration of the 14-day grace period given to the defaulters to pay ground rent and land use conversion fee.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the revocation of 1,095 landed properties belonging to some prominent Nigerians, government establishments and private organisations in Abuja for failing to pay ground rent and land use conversion fee.
This revocation was contained in a public notice that accompanied a release by his Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, on Friday.
The notice issued by the FCTA was titled: “Commencement of enforcement actions on defaulters of Ground Rent payments, Land Use Conversion Fee, C-of-O bills.”
According to the document, of the 1,095 listed individuals and organisations, 835 of them defaulted in the payment of ground rent, while 260 defaulted in payment of the violation fee and land use conversion fee thereby contravening the provisions of Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act and also the terms and conditions of the grant of the respective Rights of Occupancy (Rof)).
Mr Olayinka said the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) will commence enforcement action on the lands, some of which have been developed, following the expiration of the 14-day grace given to the defaulters.
Prominent on the list seen by PREMIUM TIMES are a former First Lady of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan, former Defence Minister, Theophilus Danjuma, former Chief of Army Staff, Ishaya Bamaiyi, ambassador-nominee, Kayode Are, and Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Others are serving Minister of State John Enoh; Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, and a former National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, and a former acting national chairman of the party, Abubakar Baraje.
Former governors, whose land titles were revoked, include Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun), Donald Duke (Cross River), Niyi Adebayo (Ekiti), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), and Gado Nasko (old Sokoto).
Former ministers listed are Chikwe, Dapo Sarumi, Idika Kalu, Olu Agunloye, and Inna Ciroma.
Serving and former federal lawmakers on the list are Ali Ndume (Borno), Osita Izunaso (Imo), Caleb Zagi (Kaduna), Ganiyu Solomon (Lagos), Olabode Olajumoke (Ondo), Iya Abubakar (Adamawa), Abubakar Sodangi (Nasarawa), Iyiola Omisore (Osun), Patrick Obahiagbon (Edo), Usman Bugaje (Katsina), Abba Aji (Borno), Shehu Agaie (Niger), Patience Ogodo (Ebonyi)d, and Mao Ohuabunwa (Abia), who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Wike-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Deceased prominent Nigerians listed are the 1993 presidential candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), Bashir Tofa, former PDP BoT Chairman and minister, Tony Anenih, former Finance Minister Adamu Ciroma; former Ohanaeze Leader, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; another former Ohanaeze President, Ralph Uwechue; former Ministers Alex Akinyele, Dubem Onyia; Onaolapo Soleye, Yakubu Lame, Babatunde Osotimehin, and John Odey.
Former Anambra governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju, IGP Ibrahim Coomassie, and Delta North Senator, Patrick Osakwe, are others who are dead but are on the list.
Federal government establishments affected are the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), NNPCL, Federal Ministries of Finance, Environment, CBN, NTA, NPA, FHA, RMFAC, NAN; the Nigerian Navy and the Nigeria Police Force.
State government properties revoked are Oyo, Borno, and Kaduna, while banks affected are the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), First Bank, EcoBank, Zenith Bank, Union Bank, defunct Diamond Bank, and defunct African Continental Bank. The Catholic Church is one of the faith-based organisations affected.
The announcement reads: “The general public, particularly holders of property in the FCT, are hereby notified that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), His Excellency, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, has approved he commencement of enforcement actions on a total of 1,095 properties in the Federal Capital City (FCC) for defaulting in various payments.
“Despite the several publications/public notices made by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in some national dailies, online platforms and television stations requesting defaulters to settle their financial obligations/liabilities to the FCTA namely – Ground Rent, Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) Bill, Penalty/Violation Fee, and Land Use Conversion Fee, the underlisted property holders have failed to comply. This contravenes the provisions of Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act and also the terms and conditions of the grant of the respective Rights of Occupancy.
Following the expiration of the final grace period of fourteen (14) calendar days on Tuesday, the 25th of November 2025, the FCT Administration will carry out enforcement actions on the 835 properties for defaulting in payment of Ground Rent and 260 properties for defaulting in payment of Violation Fee and Land Use Conversion Fee.”
Warnings defied
Mr Wike, on Monday, said that there would be no further extension of the payment deadline in the territory.
The minister warned that the defaulters may lose their properties if they do not meet the payment deadline.
A few days earlier, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the FCTA would commence fresh enforcement actions on Wednesday, 26 November, against defaulters of ground rent, land use change, and conversion fees, as well as right-of-occupancy and certificate-of-occupancy bills.
The administration noted that the two-week and the presidential grace periods granted defaulters four months ago had long elapsed, stressing that it would be the last opportunity for defaulters to pay.
In May, this newspaper also reported that the FCTA sealed some of the 4,792 institutions whose properties were affected by the non-payment of ground rent, including the PDP national secretariat in Zone 5, Wuse District.
Some organisations listed at the time were CBN, INEC, NNPC, NTA, NNDC, NPA, NIPOST, PHCN, NSPMC and NUC.
Timi Frank, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wants to relocate Nigeria’s capital from Abuja to Lagos upon his re-election in 2027.
Frank made this allegation known in a statement on Monday.
The former APC chieftain slammed Tinubu’s government for what he described as a ‘Lagos-centric agenda.’
He said that it has become clear to him that the President is pursuing an agenda of sidelining other regions.
According to Frank, major decisions of Tinubu’s administration are targeted to benefit Lagos State.
“It is now clear that the President’s long-term plan is to concentrate political and economic power in Lagos if given another term in office,” Frank said.
Frank also claimed that federal appointments and development initiatives under Tinubu have been largely one-sided, warning that such a trend undermines national unity.
“We do not want a president who is one-sided,” he said.
“Where are Tinubu’s MOUs tied to agricultural and livestock production in the North, industrial development in the Southeast, and oil and gas development in the South-South? None!
“Secondly, no president in Nigeria’s history has divided the country and its people along regional and ethnic lines the way this administration has done.
“There is a growing sense of alienation and division among Nigerians that is deeply troubling.
“It appears to be a deliberate strategy to impoverish certain regions, especially the North, South, and Southeast, so that citizens are economically weakened ahead of the 2027 election cycle,” Frank stated.
His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar II, has announced the date for Eid al-Fitr in Nigeria.
The Emir, who is the Chairman of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria, has not reported the sighting of the crescent moon of Shawwal, 1447AH, today, Wednesday, the 29th of Ramadan .
This was contained in a statement posted on the Facebook page of the Daular Usmaniyya , signed by the Wazir of Sokoto and Chairman of the Religious Affairs Committee of the Sultan’s Palace, Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu.
The statement stated that the Sultan’s Palace Moon Sighting Committee had not received any reliable reports of moon sightings from anywhere in Nigeria. According to this information, Thursday, March 19, will be the day to complete the 30th day of Ramadan.
The Sultan of Sokoto has declared Friday, March 20, 2026, as the day of the lesser Sallah, i.e. the 1st of Shawwal 1447AH.
He urged Muslims to use this time of Eid al-Fitr to pray for peace, unity, and sustainable development in Nigeria.
The statement said: “His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar CFR, mni, and Chairman, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has received the moon sighting report, which showed that the crescent moon was not sighted today, Wednesday.
“Accordingly, he declared Friday, March 20, 2026, as 1 Shawwal 1447AH (the Day of the Small Prayer). He also congratulated the Nigerian Muslim community on the occasion, and wished them the guidance and blessings of God.”
“He also called for continued prayers for peace, progress, and development of the country . He also wished Muslims a peaceful and prosperous Eid. May Allah (SWT) accept our acts of worship, amen.”
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri approves ₦19.6 billion Mother and Child Specialist Hospital in Yola The Adamawa State government says the hospital aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in Adamawa State Fintiri explains that the facility will serve as a training center and improve healthcare services in the North-East.
Yola, Adamawa State – Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has approved the construction of a state-of-the-art Mother and Child Specialist Hospital in Yola. The proposed Mother and Child Specialist Hospital will cost the state ₦19.6 billion, and it’s expected to be completed within 52 weeks. The landmark project is designed to significantly strengthen maternal, neonatal, and child healthcare services across the state.
The project aligns with Governor Fintiri’s commitment to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates. The hospital will also improve access to quality healthcare and position Adamawa as a referral hub for specialized medical services in the North-East region.
As reported by Daily Trust, the hospital will be equipped with modern medical technology and specialized units when completed.
The state governor explained that the hospital capable units to handle high-risk pregnancies, neonatal intensive care, pediatric emergencies, and other complex medical cases affecting women and children. Mother and Child Specialist Hospital will also serve as a training and research centre for healthcare professionals.
It will help to strengthen capacity and improve the quality of medical services within the state’s health sector. It will offer other healthcare services like advanced diagnostic and laboratory services, fully equipped operating theatres, intensive care units, emergency response facilities, and modern inpatient wards designed to provide quality care for patients.
Recall that Fintiri’s administration executed over 100 infrastructural, educational, health, and social projects across Adamawa state, transforming both urban centres and rural communities. The administration completed major road networks, flyovers, and township roads, including the Lamido Aliyu Mustapha Flyover, Yola, and the Nyibango-Yolde Pate Road in Yola South.
Over 100 new primary health care centres were built, while hospitals such as Numan General Hospital and Specialist Hospital, Yola, underwent comprehensive development and modernisation.
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