By Eunice Orike
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT,Nyesom Wike, has emphasised the importance paying ground rent in Abuja, says it is crucial for the city’s infrastructure development.
Wike made this known on Thursday during the commissioning of the newly constructed Collector Road CN2 (Zakari A. Kyari Street) from the Arterial road N11 (Ahmadu Bello Way) in Mabushi to Judges Quarters in Katampe and other roads.
Wike said money realized from the payment of ground rent is channeled toward projects that would be beneficial to all residents of the capital city.
Wike noted that some FCT residents have threatened to sell their houses rather than pay ground rent, but he urged them to consider the value that paying ground rent brings.
“See the value, see the product of paying a ground rent,” “If you don’t pay, nobody will provide this infrastructure because the only thing the city has is just to collect taxes” he said.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for its support in delivering key infrastructure projects in the FCT.
However, the minister lamented that the FCT administration has faced significant challenges in funding its projects, citing the limited allocation from the federation account.
“if we only depend on one percent of what the federal government gets every month, it means that we can only pay salaries, not to talk about carrying out infrastructure. And that’s why we’re very aggressive in saying you cannot enjoy this free of charge. You have to pay”, the minister said.
The minister also lamented that many residents of the FCT, particularly the wealthy men have refused to pay their taxes, thereby depriving the city of much needed revenue.
“We need money to do the work that we are doing. No poor man can do these houses. No poor man. These houses are being built by rich men. So, you have to pay. So, we can carry out the job”, he said. According to him, The problem we are having is the big men. The big men are those who make sure they don’t pay taxes. But these big men, before they leave London, they pay their property taxes. Before they leave America, they pay their rent. They know the consequences. But here, they will not be chased. They will not let out the noise. And then the next thing they will do, “Oh, give us time.” But in London, they won’t say give us time. In America, they won’t say give us time. In that place, they will obey. We even in Pakistan, they have obeyed. But in Nigeria, we always have one exclusion or the other”, the minister said.
The Minister commended the contractor, CGC Nigeria Limited, for delivering the road project promptly and urged residents to protect and preserve the new infrastructure.
Wike also thanked international partners, particularly those from the United States, for their support in Abuja’s development efforts.
