By Daniel Otera
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced it will commence enforcement actions on Monday, May 26, 2025, to take full possession of 4,794 landed properties across Abuja whose titles were revoked for failure to pay Ground Rent for durations spanning between 10 and 43 years.
The directive, which has stirred discussions around land management and statutory obligations, was issued by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. It signals one of the most sweeping real estate repossession efforts by the FCTA in recent years.
According to Lere Olayinka, the minister’s senior special assistant on public communications and social media, the properties in question are located in some of Abuja’s most sought-after districts, including the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape.
“These properties, located in prime areas such as the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape, have now legally reverted to the FCTA,” Olayinka told journalists in Abuja on Friday. “Starting Monday, the government will begin exercising its ownership rights over them.”
He added that the enforcement would be carried out “strictly by existing laws, regardless of the previous owners’ identities,” reinforcing the administration’s resolve to uphold statutory provisions over political or social sentiments.
At the joint press briefing, Olayinka was flanked by the Director of Land Administration, Mr Chijioke Nwankwoeze, and the Director of the Department of Development Control, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, both of whom provided technical clarifications on the process.
Mr Galadima stated that enforcement will begin with the sealing and restriction of access to the affected properties.
He explained, “From next week, these properties will be sealed off, and no further access will be granted. The FCTA will subsequently determine their future use.”
On potential legal encumbrances, Mr Nwankwoeze emphasised that the FCTA was not under any court order restraining it from revoking or taking over the properties.
“There is no existing court injunction halting the revocations. We are acting within the scope of the law and our statutory responsibility,” he clarified.
He also disclosed that the administration is compiling another list of defaulters who have failed to pay Ground Rent for periods between one and ten years. These individuals were given a 21-day grace period which has now elapsed. According to him, “Appropriate action will follow once the review is completed.”
It will be recalled that on March 18, 2025, the FCTA publicly announced the revocation of 4,794 land titles due to long-standing defaults. These properties formed part of a larger pool of 8,375 land titles in default, cumulatively owing N6.97 billion in unpaid Ground Rent.
“These 4,794 properties were among the total of 8,375 land titles on which Ground Rent was not paid from one year to 43 years,” Mr Olayinka explained. “We did say then that, consequent upon the revocation of these titles, ownership of the affected properties has reverted to the FCTA.”
He further noted that “from Monday, May 26, 2025, the FCTA will begin to take possession of the affected properties, using relevant agencies of government. As usual, this will be done without consideration as to ownership of the affected properties. It will be purely in line with extant laws and regulations guiding the process.”
Mr Olayinka reiterated that the administration had shown leniency before enforcing revocations.
“A grace period of 21 days was given to title holders in default of payment for between one and ten years to settle their debts or risk revocation,” he said.
He added that government agencies are “already compiling records of compliance and non-compliance to act accordingly.”
Ground Rent, a mandatory annual payment tied to land occupancy rights, is a critical component of the land tenure system under the Land Use Act. As Mr Olayinka pointed out, “Payment of Ground Rent on landed properties in the FCT is founded on extant legislation. It is stipulated in the terms and conditions of the grant of Right of Occupancy, and it is due for payment on the first day of January each year, without demand.”
The properties targeted for enforcement are situated in the ten oldest districts of Phase 1 of the Federal Capital City. These include Central Area District (Cadastral Zone A00), Garki I (A01), Wuse I (A02), Garki II (A03), Asokoro (A04), Maitama (A05 and A06), Wuse II (A07 and A08), and Guzape (A09).
According to official figures, the 4,794 titles earmarked for repossession had remained in default for over a decade. This breach contravenes the Right of Occupancy agreements in line with Section 28, subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act, thereby justifying the revocation of the titles by law.
“It is purely in line with the law. The government is taking action based on clear statutory guidelines,” Mr Olayinka concluded.
