Efforts by operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to shut and takeover some business premises in the nation’s capital, Abuja, over non-payment of Ground Rent, ran into a glitch in the Wuse Zone 3 of the city as the FCTA officials witnessed stiff resistance by some residents.
The operatives, with complement of armed security officials, have already sealed the Access Bank branch in Wuse and Total Filling Station, also in same district, in the morning hours for the said breach.
However, their bid to take over the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office, a sister government outfit, located in the same Wuse Zone 3 axis, was stiffly resisted by security guards and policemen attached to the office.
Some staff members and security men in FIRS office were sighted in a video making the round, engaging in verbal altercations with the FCTA contingent, in front of the office premises.
Although the gate to the FIRS office was shut, apparently from the inside, the FCTA operatives moved to force their way in, but were pushed back by the FIRS staff and security stationed outside.
“A tense scene of pushing, shoving, voices screaming and hurling curses and abuses were features of the video,” said an eyewitness who spoke to our correspondent near the premises.
Mr. Lere Olayinka, the Special Assistant, Media to Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister, posted a confirmation of the operations on his X-handle.
It could not be ascertained whether or not FCTA succeeded, but, all eyes were on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headquarters, Wadata Plaza, located at the same Wuse Zone 5, which the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, also, a prominent but controversial member of the party, took over last week for lack of payment of Ground Rent, thus disrupting a scheduled Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings of the party.
FCT Ministry has indicated that over 5,000 premises would be revoked for failing to pay the Ground Rent which it had been advertising, asking members of the public to pay, if they have land allocation in FCT.
