The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will begin reclaiming over 4,700 properties in Abuja, Nigeria, from Monday, following the revocation of land titles due to long-term non-payment of ground rent — in some cases for as long as 43 years.
The planned enforcement was announced during a joint press briefing held on Friday by senior FCTA officials, including the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media, Lere Olayinka; the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze; and the Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima.
The properties, located in several prominent districts such as Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape, had their land titles revoked under Section 28(5)(a)(b) of the Land Use Act due to consistent failure to meet statutory payment obligations.
Officials stated that the government would commence physical repossession of the properties, which will involve sealing off the buildings and restricting access, regardless of the identity of the previous owners.
“From Monday, the administration will begin asserting its rights over the 4,794 affected plots. This will be carried out strictly in accordance with existing laws, without bias towards any individual or entity,” they said.
Nwankwoeze explained that the affected property owners had been granted ample time to comply with their obligations, but failed to do so despite repeated notices. Consequently, the administration had no choice but to act.
He also addressed reports of legal challenges by some property owners, clarifying that no court has barred the FCTA from taking lawful action regarding the revocations.
Development Control Director Galadima confirmed that enforcement teams are ready to begin sealing the properties. He added that the administration would make decisions on future use or allocation of the recovered assets in due course.
The properties in question are located in some of the city’s earliest developed areas, including Central Area (Cadastral Zone A00), Garki I (A01), Wuse I (A02), Garki II (A03), Asokoro (A04), Maitama (A05 & A06), Wuse II (A07 & A08), and Guzape (A09).
In March, the FCTA had published a list of 8,375 properties that were in default, including the ongoing construction site of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat. Of those, 4,794 were found to have owed ground rent for over a decade — a debt totalling nearly ₦7 billion.
A 21-day grace period had been extended to those in default for less than 10 years, with a warning that failure to comply would lead to similar consequences. That grace period has now expired.
