‘I take joy in stepping on the toes of big men’

‘I take joy in stepping on the toes of big men’ – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed personal satisfaction in ensuring that influential individuals are held accountable, particularly those who consider themselves beyond the reach of the law.

Speaking during a media chat in Abuja, Wike discussed ongoing efforts to recover unpaid ground rents from property owners in the capital city.

Highlighting his approach, he stated, “Look at what we are doing differently. People have said that FCT was not working, but now it is, which means I’m addressing issues that previous FCT ministers chose to ignore.”

“I found out that most of them didn’t have the courage to annoy people, to step on toes but I take joy when I step on the toes of big men; those who say nothing will happen but I say something will happen. It makes me happy.”

Wike dismissed the idea of selective enforcement that targets only the poor, saying accountability must apply across the board.

The FCT Administration had earlier published the names of over 9,000 ground rent defaulters, warning of property forfeiture for debts ranging between 10 to 43 years. The list included individuals, corporations, and even political institutions.

On May 23, 2025, the administration began taking over properties, including the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

However, President Bola Tinubu later granted a 14-day grace period for defaulters to settle their outstanding payments and penalties.