A war of words has erupted between the office of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and Senator Ireti Kingibe over the recent enforcement of ground rent payments in Abuja, with the minister's aide accusing the senator of displaying a "myopic attitude" toward the issue.

Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to Minister Wike, issued a scathing rebuke to Senator Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate, following her criticism of the FCT Administration's decision to seal properties over unpaid ground rent.

The controversy began on Monday when the FCT Authority commenced sealing 4,794 land titles revoked due to owners' failure to pay ground rent. Several high-profile properties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretariat, were affected by the enforcement action.

Following public outcry, President Bola Tinubu reportedly intervened, prompting Minister Wike to issue a 14-day grace period for defaulters to settle their outstanding payments.

Senator Kingibe had criticized the action, declaring it "illegal" to seize, revoke, or seal properties solely for failure to pay ground rent. This stance drew a sharp response from Olayinka, who accused the senator of being motivated by personal animosity toward Wike rather than legal principles.

"It is ridiculously embarrassing that a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, whose duty is to make laws, is ignorant of the provisions of Section 28, Subsections (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act," Olayinka stated.

He further explained that the Land Use Act explicitly provides grounds for revoking a Statutory Right of Occupancy, including "a breach of any term contained in the Certificate of Occupancy," which includes the payment of ground rent.

"Now, is annual payment of ground rent not part of the terms contained in the Certificate of Occupancy? Or did Senator Kingibe just choose to advertise her myopic attitude to anything Wike?" Olayinka questioned.

The minister's aide challenged the senator's position by asking rhetorically if she would have overlooked the situation if she were the FCT Minister, particularly given that some defaulters had reportedly not paid ground rent for periods ranging from 10 to 43 years.

This exchange highlights ongoing tensions in the administration of the Federal Capital Territory and raises questions about property rights, enforcement mechanisms, and the interpretation of Nigeria's land use regulations.

The 14-day grace period granted by Minister Wike provides temporary relief for affected property owners, but the fundamental dispute over the legality and appropriateness of the enforcement measures remains unresolved.