Monday May 26, 2025|
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday, May 26, began implementing its threat to take possession of 4,794 properties across some of Abuja’s most upscale districts, following the revocation of their land titles due to non-payment of ground rent for periods ranging from 10 to 43 years.
High-profile offices and commercial properties sealed off include the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office in Wuse Zone 5, an Access Bank branch, and a Total petrol station in Wuse District, for failing to pay ground rent for periods ranging from 25 to 34 years.
On Tuesday, March 18, the administration revoked 4,794 land titles across prime districts such as Wuse, Maitama, Asokoro, and Garki, targeting property owners whose arrears spanned from a decade to over four decades. The affected properties included those belonging to government agencies, banks, and private businesses.
Key details of the enforcement include:
FIRS Office: Sealed for defaulting on ground rent for 25 years.
Access Bank Branch: Sealed for non-payment of ground rent for 34 years. Notably, the property was originally allocated to Rana Tahir Furniture Nigeria Limited, not Access Bank directly.
Total Petrol Station: Sealed for failing to meet statutory payment obligations for more than 10 years.
The FCTA’s enforcement is unprecedented in scale, with 8,375 property owners identified as owing ground rent, totalling approximately ₦6.97 billion in arrears, some dating back over 40 years. The administration has begun taking possession of the 4,794 properties whose titles were revoked, regardless of the identity or status of the current occupants.
While thousands of property owners owing less than 10 years were given a 21-day grace period to settle their debts, the FCTA is still reconciling its records to determine compliance. Those who failed to pay within the deadline will face similar sanctions.
The FCTA’s actions are backed by Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act, which empowers the government to revoke land titles and reclaim properties from defaulters. The administration has emphasised that ground rent is a statutory obligation due annually on January 1, without the need for formal demand.
This marks one of the largest property repossession exercises in Abuja’s history and signals the FCTA’s determination to enforce fiscal discipline and compliance with land use regulations in the capital territory.
Ownership of the revoked properties has now reverted to the FCTA, with access to the affected buildings restricted as the administration assumes full control. The fate of these properties will be determined in subsequent decisions by the FCTA.
