Ground Rent Debt: Wike Vows To Step On Toes

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has cautioned defaulters of ground rent in the territory to immediately take steps to pay their outstanding liabilities, warning that at the end of the grace period, he would match words with actions by revoking affected plots.

Wike restated this yesterday in Abuja at separate meetings with the president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo, and the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, James Chrisoff.

The minister while cautioning those who think his utterances border on the pretence of bravery, otherwise called “initial gragra” in local parlance, said at the end of the ultimatum for payment, something will happen.

The minister, who spoke when he received the NUJ leadership, declared that the era of abandoned projects in the FCT was over.

“Abandonment of projects as far as the FCT is concerned is a thing of the past. This would not have been possible without the president exiting us from the TSA. As I speak to you, I can tell you how much we have been able to save from the IGR. There will be continuous funding of FCTA projects,” he said.

On the issue of ground rents, the minister said; “Some people are saying what we are doing is ‘initial gragra’, but I want to say that at the end of the day, something will happen.

“We will step on toes because you cannot have governance without stepping on toes. I did not make the laws but I and my colleague, the Minister of State, have the political will to enforce the laws.”

Earlier, Isiguzo expressed optimism at what he called the transformational potentials of Wike’s leadership in the FCT.

He also requested the minister’s support in the establishment of a Media Village as well as the forthcoming national media conference.

In a related development, while receiving the Canadian top diplomat, Wike assured foreign missions and other investors of improved security in the territory, saying security agencies were working daily to ensure that security is full-proof in the nation’s capital.

He said the establishment of a Joint Task team on “One-chance robbers”, has helped address the menace, as no incident has been recorded since the team began operation.

“Security has improved in the FCT. Security agencies have been working around the clock to ensure that the environment remains safe. For instance, in the issue of one-chance, we set up a joint task force and they have been working round the clock, since then no incidence has been recorded.

“The Renewed Hope agenda of Mr. President is to restore Hope to our people. The President has put modalities in place to ensure that people’s hope is renewed. So much activity is going on in Abuja.

“We are focused on our drive to increase our Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, so that we can carry out other developments. So, we encourage corporate bodies, foreign missions to fulfill their tax obligations,” he stated.

Chrisoff had commended the Wike-led administration for establishing the Women Affairs Secretariat, saying Canada has an immense interest in improving opportunities for young women and girls in the FCT.

He said his country was also interested in partnering with Nigeria in the area of agriculture, as was articulated by President Tinubu at the ongoing Nigerian Economic Summit.

Meanwhile, Wike had earlier in the day inaugurated the pioneer secretary of Women Affairs, Mrs. Benjamins Adedayo-Laniyi, with the charge to come up with workable modalities that will help the secretariat kick off operations.