FIRS Slams FCTA Over Office Closure as PDP HQ, Total, Access Bank Sealed for Unpaid Ground Rent

A brewing controversy between two major federal institutions has sparked public debate after the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) sharply criticised the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for sealing off its Abuja office over alleged non-payment of ground rent.

FCTA officials, in a sweeping enforcement action earlier today, shut down several prominent properties in the city, including the FIRS office in Zone 5, Access Bank in Wuse Market, and a Total petrol station. Authorities cited decades of unpaid ground rent as the basis for the move.

However, the FIRS has strongly denied the allegations, describing the clampdown as “unprofessional” and “potentially damaging to national revenue operations.” Aderonke Atoyebi, Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media to the FIRS Executive Chairman, stated that the agency had fully settled its ground rent obligations up to 2023 and had the documents to prove it.

“It’s so unprofessional that the FCTA, under the leadership of Nyesom Wike, shut down our office without prior notice,” Atoyebi said in a statement. “This has disrupted our operations at a critical time when we’re finalising key reforms like the Tax Reform Bills. FCTA, you goofed big time — FIRS isn’t owing you.”

Atoyebi further took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), dismissing claims that FIRS had defaulted for 25 years as “falsehoods,” and accused the FCTA of using the agency as a scapegoat.

“Documents available show that we have paid all dues until 2023,” she wrote. “We even requested a receipt for our February 19, 2024, payment, and have yet to receive it. The media spin and administrative rascality must stop. We demand an apology.”

The FCTA’s ongoing land rent enforcement campaign has sent shockwaves through Abuja’s property and business sectors. According to officials, over 4,794 land titles across prime districts like Wuse, Maitama, Asokoro, and Garki have been revoked due to non-payment. Collectively, 8,375 property owners reportedly owe about ₦6.97 billion, with some debts dating back over 40 years.

The crackdown also ensnared the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was sealed on Monday just a day before the party’s high-stakes National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. Located at Wuse Zone 5, the secretariat was shut over an alleged 19-year failure to pay ground rent.

The NEC, PDP’s highest decision-making body, was expected to deliberate on critical internal issues, including long-running leadership disputes. With the building now under lock and key, the status of the meeting remains uncertain.

Section 31 (4) of the PDP constitution mandates an NEC meeting every three months. The last was held in April 2024. No official statement has been made on whether the party has secured an alternative venue.