The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Monday declared that poor people do not live in Maitama, Wuse 2, Guzape, Asokoro, and the Central Business Areas of Abuja.
He disclosed this while faulting the wealthy who refuse to pay ground rent in Nigeria.
Wike lamented that house owners have properties abroad where they pay taxes but have refused to pay ground rent in Nigeria.
The FCT Authority had refused some properties in Abuja over refusal to pay ground rent.
Last week, officials of the FCTA commenced enforcement by sealing off affected properties.
However, speaking during his monthly press briefing in Abuja, Wike said: “We have arranged for 19 days of project commissioning and thereafter we will now take off the flag of projects.
“It’s unfortunate in our country that you pay for two years and it’s about to expire, and you expect the landlord to remind you.
“You have a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and you will be paying annually to keep that property, and you are now saying some people may not have the financial power to keep to it.
“Most of the elites own properties overseas where they pay taxes, but here in Nigeria nothing will happen, and it’s the attitude that has killed us.
“Nobody pays 400,000 a year as ground rent.”;
