The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has criticized the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for sealing two of its offices over a rent issue. FIRS called the move embarrassing and unnecessary.

During a press conference in Abuja, FIRS officials said the FCTA acted wrongly and should apologize. They explained that they were not owing any ground rent, as claimed.

FIRS said the two offices located at No. 12 and 14 Sokode Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, were fully paid for, and there was no rent left unpaid.

Mr. Tyofa Abeghe, Director of Facility Management at FIRS, said the claims by FCTA were completely false. He explained that FIRS received a rent notice from the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) in September 2023.

Three months after receiving the notice, FIRS paid the full amount of N2,364,003. But even after payment, they didn’t receive a receipt.

To follow up, Mr. Abeghe wrote a letter on February 19, 2024, asking AGIS to confirm the payment and issue a receipt. The letter was received by AGIS but was never responded to.

FIRS Special Adviser on Infrastructure, Mr. Kunle Ogidi, said FCTA behaved carelessly and failed to do proper checks before acting. He insisted that FIRS is a responsible agency and does not owe rent on any of its properties in Abuja.

Mr. Ogidi said the amount paid covered ground rent from the year 2000 to 2024 for the two affected offices. He stressed that FIRS has seven offices in the same area and has paid for all of them. He wondered why they would pay for five and leave only two.

Media Adviser, Mr. Dare Adekanmbi, also questioned the logic of FCTA’s actions. He said it made no sense for FIRS to owe just two properties when others were already paid for.

Other FIRS representatives, Collins Omokaro and Arabirin Aderonke Atoyebi, called for better cooperation between government agencies. They also apologized to the FIRS staff and taxpayers who were disturbed during the office sealing incident.