Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), disclosed that owners of VIP properties in Abuja owe over ₦300 billion in unpaid fees for Certificates of Occupancy.
Speaking at his official residence in Life Camp, Abuja, on Sunday night, Wike stressed that these unpaid debts are contributing to significant revenue shortfalls. He further highlighted that since his appointment in August 2023, his administration’s proactive efforts to boost revenue have led to notable financial improvements.
The minister shared that the FCT’s monthly revenue collections have surged from around ₦9 billion to an average of ₦25 billion. In December 2024, the FCT alone generated more than ₦40 billion. Wike attributed this increase to stricter enforcement of ground rent collections and landowners’ payments for Certificates of Occupancy. He emphasized that these measures are crucial for sustaining development in the capital city.
Wike also revealed that the FCT government allocates ₦13 billion every month for salaries, underscoring the need for a robust revenue base to meet financial obligations and fund ongoing projects. He stated, “We receive less than N13 billion from VAT and the 1% provided by the Federal Government. Therefore, we need to supplement our internally generated revenue (IGR) in order to afford salaries given the recent wage increases.”
When I arrived, we were generating between N9 billion and N10 billion. Today, by the grace of God, our monthly generation is at least N25 billion. “Our aggressive revenue efforts have led to significant achievements. In fact, just last month we generated over 40 billion naira, which supports our infrastructure initiatives.”
Wike further questioned, “It must come from taxes. Without tax payments, how can we achieve development?” He continued, “Can you honestly say that the FCT is justifying the revenue or taxes you’re paying? Yes, it’s accurate. We can confidently claim we’re working towards it, but it’s still not sufficient.”
