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By Lizzy Chirkpi
Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has condemned the recent sealing of properties across Abuja by various government agencies, calling the actions illegal and insensitive to the economic hardship faced by residents.
In a press statement released on May 26, 2025, Senator Kingibe expressed deep concern over reports of properties being impounded, emphasising that while enforcement of regulations and tax obligations is necessary, it must adhere to legal procedures, fairness, and sensitivity.
Senator Kingibe specifically clarified that non-payment of ground rent, a tax collected by state governments on granted land, is not a lawful basis for arbitrary property takeover. She stated that the penalty for defaulting on ground rent is legally limited to a fine or surcharge, not the compulsory seizure or sealing of property without due process.
She referenced Section 42 of the Land Use Act and other relevant provisions, highlighting that the government’s constitutional power to revoke land for overriding public interest must strictly follow due legal process, including the payment of compensation.
The Senator criticized the “indiscriminate and sometimes abrupt sealing of properties, often executed without proper notice, engagement, or adherence to legal procedure.” She argued that such actions exacerbate economic distress, undermine livelihoods, erode public trust, and risk destabilizing social and economic stability in the FCT.
Senator Kingibe affirmed her commitment to addressing the issue, stating that she “cannot, and will not, stand idly by while residents are subjected to enforcement practices that contravene established laws and compound their suffering.”
She assured residents that she is actively engaging with relevant authorities and exploring legislative avenues to ensure that all enforcement actions comply with the rule of law, fairness, and compassion.
She urged FCT residents and business owners to remain calm and law-abiding, pledging to ensure that “dialogue, justice, and due process prevail.”