Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has identified wealthy Abuja residents as the biggest challenge to voluntary tax compliance, which he says is crucial for the city’s development.
Wike made the remarks on Thursday during the inauguration of the newly constructed Collector Road CN2 (Zakari A. Kyari Street) in Abuja by President Bola Tinubu, represented by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu. The event marked Tinubu’s second year in office.
The road, linking Arterial Road N11 (Ahmadu Bello Way) in Mabushi to Judges Quarters in Katampe District, was funded through taxes and ground rents paid by compliant residents.
“The big men living in the FCT do not like paying taxes,” Wike stated, expressing frustration that the same individuals willingly pay taxes abroad. “They pay their taxes and ground rent voluntarily in London, the United States of America and other foreign countries.”
Highlighting the financial constraints facing the FCT, Wike explained: “What Abuja collects from the Federation Account was one per cent of what was due to the Federal Government every month. So, assuming that the federal government gets N800 billion every month. One percent of N800 billion is N8 billion Naira and N8 billion is not enough to pay salaries.”
He revealed the FCT’s monthly wage bill now exceeds N13 billion due to the new minimum wage, leaving little for infrastructure. “That’s why we’re very aggressive in saying you cannot enjoy infrastructure free of charge. You have to pay. It has nothing to do with ‘I belong to party A; I belong to party B, I belong to party C’,” Wike emphasized.
The minister issued a stern warning to tax defaulters: “If you know you have land here and you have not paid, I will publish your name that you have not paid. It has nothing to do that I want to embarrass you, no. We need money to do the work that we are doing.”
Wike specifically targeted affluent residents, noting: “No poor man can do these houses. No poor man. These houses are being built by rich men. So, you have to pay so we can carry out the job of delivering critical infrastructure.”
Earlier, FCDA Acting Executive Secretary Richard Dauda disclosed the CN2 road project, executed by CGC Nigeria Limited, commenced in October 2024. The dual carriageway features two lanes each, with connecting single carriageways designed to open up Katampe District for development.
Wike urged the Deputy Speaker to help sensitize residents on tax compliance, stressing that voluntary payments would enable more infrastructure delivery across the capital territory.