The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced a major step in reclaiming properties with unpaid ground rent in the nation’s capital. Beginning Monday, May 26, 2025, the FCTA will start taking possession of 4,794 properties whose land titles were revoked due to failure to pay ground rent for periods ranging from 10 to 43 years. This move signals the government’s commitment to enforcing land use laws and ensuring compliance from property owners across the Federal Capital Territory.
Officials from the FCTA, including Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration, and Mukhtar Galadima, Director of the Department of Development Control, revealed these plans during a press briefing held in Abuja.
They made it clear that the takeover will proceed regardless of the current ownership status of the properties. The FCTA will act within the full scope of the law, aiming to resolve long-standing issues related to unpaid ground rent and to restore order to land administration in the capital.
Addressing concerns about legal challenges, Director Nwankwoeze explained that although there have been claims some owners initiated court cases, there have been no rulings to stop or delay the FCTA’s actions. This means the administration is legally free to move forward with reclaiming the properties.
The FCTA is also in the process of reviewing records for property owners who have defaulted on ground rent payments for between one and ten years. These owners were granted a 21-day grace period to settle their debts, and the government is currently verifying who has complied. Once this assessment is complete, appropriate steps will be taken in line with existing laws.
Nwankwoeze provided further details about the scale of the issue, noting that on March 18, 2025, the FCTA officially revoked 4,794 land titles in some of the oldest and most prominent districts of the Federal Capital Territory. These areas include Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape.
He explained that these revoked titles were part of a larger group totaling 8,375 land titles with unpaid ground rent ranging from one year up to 43 years. The total outstanding ground rent debt for these properties amounts to nearly ₦7 billion (₦6,967,980,119). This level of unpaid rent constitutes a violation of the Land Use Act, specifically Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b), which led to the revocations.
Following the revocation, ownership of these properties has reverted to the FCTA. Starting from May 26, the administration will begin physically taking possession of the affected lands through its relevant agencies. This will be done strictly in line with the laws governing land use and without consideration of any ownership disputes.
The FCTA emphasized that payment of ground rent is a legal requirement embedded in the Right of Occupancy agreements. Ground rent is due annually on January 1, and property owners must pay without waiting for reminders or demands from the government.
This enforcement action underscores the administration’s resolve to clean up land administration in the Federal Capital Territory, especially in the older districts of Phase 1 of the Federal Capital City. The affected districts, including the Central Area and key neighborhoods like Maitama and Wuse, are among the most significant parts of the capital, where land ownership and use have a considerable impact on the city’s development.
The FCTA called on all property owners to take ground rent obligations seriously to avoid similar penalties in the future. It also reiterated its commitment to transparency and fairness in enforcing the law while protecting the interests of compliant citizens.
In summary, this decisive move by the FCTA is set to address long-standing issues around unpaid ground rent and ensure that land in the Federal Capital Territory is properly managed. It highlights the administration’s focus on accountability and sustainable urban development as Abuja continues to grow.
Thepulseinfo
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