ABUJA, Nigeria — The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved the revocation of 4,794 land titles due to non-payment of ground rent for over a decade.
The announcement was made by Mr. Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the minister, during a press conference in Abuja on Monday, March 17, 2025.
Olayinka revealed that a total of 8,375 property owners owe N6.97 billion in ground rent as of the end of 2024.
The defaulters are primarily located in high-profile districts such as the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape.
He noted that some of these property owners have not paid ground rent for up to 43 years, violating the terms and conditions of the Rights of Occupancy as stipulated in Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act.
“Payment of ground rent on landed property in the FCT is founded on extant legislation. It is clearly stipulated in the terms and conditions of grant of Right of Occupancy, and it is due for payment on the first day of January, each year, without demand,” Olayinka explained.
The FCTA had previously issued numerous publications in national newspapers and broadcast media since 2023, urging defaulters to settle their outstanding bills.
However, these efforts yielded minimal response, prompting the decision to revoke the titles of properties with unpaid ground rent for 10 years or more.
“Consequently, the titles of the properties in default of payment of ground rent for 10 years and above have been revoked forthwith,” Olayinka stated.
He added that a 21-day grace period has been granted to title holders who have defaulted on payments for between one and 10 years.
Failure to pay within this period will result in the revocation of their titles.
Mr. Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land at the FCTA, provided further details, explaining that the affected properties are located in the 10 oldest districts of Phase 1 of the Federal Capital City.
These include Cadastral Zones A01 to A09, encompassing private companies, individuals, and even government organisations.
Nwankwoeze clarified that the revocation process is being carried out in phases. Phase I, which includes high-profile districts like Asokoro and Maitama, is currently underway, with Phase II—covering areas such as Gudu District, Durumi, Wuye, Katampe, Jabi, Mabushi, Utako, and Daki Biyu—set to follow.
“Once a title is revoked, the property reverts to the FCTA, so effectively, all the 4,794 properties have reverted to the FCTA,” Nwankwoeze said. He added that the FCT minister will determine the next steps for these properties, which could include reallocation or other administrative actions.
The move has sparked mixed reactions, with some stakeholders applauding the FCTA’s efforts to enforce compliance with land use regulations, while others have expressed concerns about the potential impact on property owners, particularly those who may have faced financial difficulties.
