“Wike Stirs Political Buzz As APC Gets Abuja Old Parade Ground For Secretariat”

Wike Allocates Abuja’s Historic Old Parade Ground to APC—Statute Charges Waived

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has allocated a portion of Abuja’s celebrated Old Parade Ground to the All Progressives Congress (APC), granting the party effective permanent ownership—without paying the usual multibillion-naira statutory charges, according to iReporter Online.

On August 8, 2025, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) carved out a two-hectare section of the parade ground—registered as Plot 4742 in Cadastral Zone A01, Garki District—and promptly issued both the right of occupancy and certificate of occupancy to the APC on the same day, bypassing the often lengthy and cumbersome process, according to iReporter Online.

The documents show the assessed land premium was ₦6,000 per square metre, with a ground rent of ₦35 per square metre—totaling around ₦120.6 million—plus additional fees such as development levies, processing charges, infrastructure development fees, survey duties, and the certificate of occupancy costs.

Despite this, all such fees were waived, and the APC received a 99-year lease at no cost to the federal treasury, according to iReporter Online.

This move has transformed a public symbol of national unity—a venue for Independence Day parades, cultural festivals, sporting events, and political gatherings—into the exclusive property of a political party.

Critics accuse Minister Wike of undermining Abuja’s foundational civic character, while his administration contends the measure supports development and aligns with broader urban renewal efforts.

Nonetheless, opposition figures have demanded an independent probe, citing a troubling pattern of preferential allocations.

”IREPORTER REPORTS”