FIRS Condemns “Embarrassing Invasion” by FCTA Over Disputed Ground Rent
By Patience Ikpeme
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has voiced strong disapproval over what it described as an “embarrassing invasion” of two of its offices by officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
The FCTA officials reportedly acted to enforce the alleged non-payment of ground rent, a claim the FIRS vehemently denies.
In a statement released in Abuja, the FIRS “demanded an apology from the FCTA officials for the unjustifiable invasion, having acted in error.”
Mr. Tyofa Abeghe, Director of Facility Management Department at FIRS, refuted the allegation that the Service owed 25 years of ground rent on its offices at No. 12 and 14, Sokode Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.
He stated that the claim was far from the truth, as the FIRS had already paid the supposed outstanding amount.
Abeghe explained that a demand notice from the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), dated September 2023, requested ground rent for the properties. This demand was honored with a payment of N2,364,003 three months after the notice was issued.
Frustrated by the lack of a receipt and treasury acknowledgement for the payment, Abeghe sent a letter dated February 19, 2024, requesting confirmation of the payment and the issuance of a receipt. The letter was acknowledged by the AGIS front desk, but, according to the FIRS, there was no response, nor was the payment officially receipted.
Mr. Kunle Ogidi, Special Adviser on Infrastructure to the FIRS Chairman, condemned the actions of the FCTA officials as “administrative rascality.” He added that the officials would have known the ground rent had been paid if they had conducted proper due diligence.
“As a law-abiding agency, FIRS does not owe FCTA ground rent on any of its offices in FCT or anywhere, including the ones invaded by these officials,” Ogidi stated. “For clarity, on the two offices sealed, which are located on Plot 627, Sokode Crescent, a sum of N2,364,003.26 covering ground rent on the properties for the fiscal year 2000 to 2024 has since been paid.”
Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser Media to the FIRS Chairman, questioned the rationale behind the FCTA’s action, noting, “FIRS has about seven offices in Sokode Crescent alone. Why are we going to pay ground rent on others and leave only two? Does that make sense?”
Background on FCTA’s Ground Rent Enforcement Drive
This incident occurs amidst a broader enforcement campaign by the FCTA to recover billions of naira in unpaid ground rents across Abuja.
Recent reports indicate that the FCTA has been aggressive in its efforts to reclaim properties with long-standing rent defaults, with some arrears dating back decades. The FCTA had announced on Friday, May 23, 2025, that it would commence physical takeover of 4,794 properties whose land titles were revoked due to non-payment of ground rent for periods ranging from 10 to 43 years, starting from Monday, May 26, 2025.
This large-scale enforcement has seen the sealing of numerous commercial and private properties, including the Headquarters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Wuse. The FCTA maintains that property owners were given ample notice and that these actions are in line with the Land Use Act, which empowers the government to reclaim land for breaches of occupancy terms.
However, the FIRS maintains that in their specific case, the payment was made and the issue lies with the FCTA’s internal reconciliation and receipting process. The FIRS’s headquarters is located at Revenue House, 20 Sokode Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, while other FIRS offices are also situated on Sokode Crescent, including No. 14.
This situation points to a communication and administrative disconnect between the two federal government entities.
