President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a pause on the sealing of some properties in Abuja following public uproar over the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) recent clampdown on defaulters.

Earlier on Monday, May 26, 2025, the FCTA began sealing more than 4,000 properties across the city due to years of unpaid ground rent.

This sweeping action affected both individuals and major organizations, some of which haven’t made payments in as long as 43 years.

Among the high-profile properties sealed were the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), an annex of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Access Bank, TotalEnergies, and Ibro Hotel, all of which are located in the Wuse Zone, a busy part of the capital city.

This action followed a directive given last Friday by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, who had asked the FCTA to take possession of the affected properties.

However, by the evening of Monday, May 26, 2025, there was a significant shift in the story.

The FCT Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, announced in a statement that the President had stepped in and directed a suspension of the action.

He explained that as a result of this intervention, affected property owners now have a two-week grace period to settle their outstanding ground rent, along with any penalties.

According to Mr. Nwankwoeze, the enforcement process was necessary as a way of holding all landowners accountable, including government bodies, private organizations, and individuals.

He described it as proof that the FCTA was serious about applying the law fairly, without fear or favour. But with the President’s directive, there is now a window of opportunity for the property owners to clear what they owe and avoid permanent loss of their properties.

He also noted that the defaulters will not only pay the ground rent but also face significant penalties.

He added that people who bought properties from others but failed to register their interests officially by obtaining the Minister’s Consent and registering their Deeds of Assignment must now do so within the same two-week period at the Department of Land Administration.

Nwankwoeze also relayed a broader warning from the FCT Minister, Wike, that all property owners in the Federal Capital Territory have been given a 14-day grace period to settle any unpaid charges on their Right of Occupancy or Certificate of Occupancy.

Failure to do so, he said, could lead to the revocation of property titles.

He stated that the Minister stressed the importance of staying up to date on all property-related bills, noting that such payments are essential to help the government continue developing the city and delivering services to its residents.

Meanwhile, the PDP has publicly expressed outrage over the sealing of its headquarters, calling it a clear example of “the highest irresponsibility from this government”.

Addressing the Press after a meeting of the party’s national caucus at the Bauchi State Government Liaison House in Abuja, acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum described the move as “unacceptable and politically charged”.

Damagum dared FCTA officials to arrest party members if they must, insisting that the PDP was not going to back down, pointing out the irony that the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, is himself a member of the PDP.

This unfolding drama in the capital has not only stirred political tension but also thrown the spotlight on long-standing issues surrounding property ownership, rent obligations, and government accountability in Abuja.

For now, all eyes are on how property owners respond within the two-week window granted by the President.