Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, revealed 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 the significant revenue shortfalls caused by these unpaid debts.
He highlighted the improvements in revenue collection since he assumed office in August 2023, noting that monthly revenue collections have grown from approximately ₦9 billion to an average of ₦25 billion. In December 2024, the FCT alone generated over ₦40 billion.
Wike attributed this growth to stricter enforcement of ground rent collections and the payment of Certificates of Occupancy fees. He emphasized that these efforts are critical to sustaining the city’s development.
The minister also revealed that the FCT government allocates ₦13 billion monthly for salaries, underscoring the importance of a strong revenue base to meet financial obligations and support ongoing projects.
“We receive less than ₦13 billion from VAT and the 1% provided by the Federal Government. Thus, we must increase our internally generated revenue (IGR) to meet salary payments, especially with recent wage hikes,” Wike said.
When he took office, revenue generation was between ₦9 billion and ₦10 billion. “Now, we’re consistently generating at least ₦25 billion monthly,” he stated.
“Our aggressive revenue efforts have led to significant progress, and last month we generated over ₦40 billion, which directly supports infrastructure projects.”
He questioned, “Where will the funds for development come from if not taxes?”
Wike further emphasized, “Can we truly say that the FCT is using the taxes you pay effectively? Yes, we can, but we still need more resources to meet all demands.”
