• As defaulters get 14-day waiver
• FCTA seals off FIRS office, bank, fuel station
President Bola Tinubu has intervened in the ongoing crackdown on defaulters of ground rent payment on landed properties in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This is just as officials of the FCT Administration (FCTA) under the directive of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Monday, commenced enforcement on the 4,794 properties revoked for non-payment of Ground Rent from 10 to 43 years.
It is instructive to note that both properties owned by government institutions, corporate organisations and individuals were affected.
But with the President’s intervention, holders of the affected properties have 14 days to settle their outstanding Ground Rents, with associated penalties.
Briefing journalists on the development, Director, FCT Department of Land Administration, Mr. Chijioke Nwankwoeze said for properties in the Central Area, N5 million will be paid by the defaulters as penalty in addition to the Ground Rent owed.
He added that for those in Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, and Guzape Districts will pay N3 million as penalty while defaulters in Wuse I, Garki I and Garki II will pay N2 million as penalty, all in addition to the Ground Rent owed.
According to him, all those who purchased properties from other people.but are yet to register their interests by obtaining the mandatory Minister’s Consent and registering their Deeds of Assignment now have 14 days to do so at the FCT Department of Land Administration.
Furthermore, Nwankwoeze revealed that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has granted a 14 days grace period to all property holders in the FCT to pay up their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O)/Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills or risk revocation of those titles.
He said, “Going forward, the Minister has advised property owners in the FCT to ensure that they pay all necessary bills and charges on their properties as at and when due, so as to enable the government to continue to carry out necessary developmental projects for the benefit of the people.”
But the FCTA, on Monday, before the President’s intervention, sealed off Access Bank branch and a Total petrol station located in Zone 6, Wuse, Abuja, over non-payment of ground rent spanning 34 years.
The property occupied by Access Bank is officially allocated to Rana Tahir Furniture Nigeria Limited, not the bank directly, according to official documents.
A letter dated March 13, 2025, signed by the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, stated: “The Minister of Federal Capital Territory has in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, revoked your rights, interests and privileges over Plot No. 2456 within Wuse I, Cadastral Zone A02, Abuja.”
The letter cited the continued default in ground rent payment as the reason for the revocation.
