By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has informed that begining from Monday 26th May 2025, it would begin taking possession of 4,794 properties revoked over non-payment of Ground Rent between 10 to 43 years in the Capital city.
The FCT Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze and Director Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima announced this at a press conference held on Friday in Abuja.
Olayinka while briefing newsmen said, “the ownership of the revoked 4,794 properties in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama and Guzape districts, had already been reverted to the FCTA, and as from Monday, next week, the government will begin to exercise its rights of ownership on the affected landed properties.”
FCTA
“As usual, this will be done without consideration as to ownership of the affected landed property will be purely in line with extant laws and regulations guiding the process.”
In the listed districts, a total of 4,794 land titles were in default of Ground rent payment for 10 years and above.”
Following this, a total of N6,967,980,119 was being owed the administration as Ground Rent by 8,375 property owners, Olayinka stated.
Moreover, the Director of Development Control, Chijioke Nwankwoeze concurred that as from Monday 26th May, affected properties will be sealed up and access to them restricted.
However, he stated that FCTA will decide on what to do with the affected properties in due course.
Speaking on the claim that some people went to court, the Director of Lands, explained that there was no court decision on the revocation, meaning that the FCTA is not restricted in the discharge of its lawful functions on the affected properties.
According to him, the FCTA was already compiling a list of compliance and non-compliance of titleholders who have defaulted in payment of Ground Rent for between one and ten years, who were given a grace of 21 Days to pay up.
Nwankwoeze stressed that the government will act accordingly as soon as the records are fully complied and analyzed.
It would be recalled that on March 17, 2025, there was a revocation of 4,794 land titles in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama and Guzape districts.
“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.”
He noted that consequent to the revocation of these titles, ownership of the affected properties have reverted to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).”
“As from Monday, May 26, 2025, the FCTA will begin to take possession of the affected properties, using relevant agencies of government.”
“The possession
will be done without consideration of ownership of the affected properties, and will be purely in line with extant laws and regulations guiding the process, Olayinka disclosed.
Furthermore, he noted that a grace of 21 Days was given to titleholders who defaulted in payment of Ground Rents for between one and ten years, to enable them pay up or have their land tittles revoked.
He noted that relevant agencies of the FCTA are already compiling records of compliance and non-compliance with this directive, with a view to acting accordingly.
It is important to state that payment of Ground Rent on landed properties 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, he informed
“In March, this year, list of land titles in default of payment of Ground Rent was compiled in the ten oldest districts of Phase 1 of the Federal Capital City (FCC), namely; Central Area District (Cadastral Zone A00), Garki I (Cadastral Zone A01), Wuse I (Cadastral Zone A02), Garki II (Cadastral Zone A03), Asokoro (Cadastral Zone A04), Maitama (Cadastral Zone A05), Maitama (Cadastral Zone A06), Wuse II (Cadastral Zone A07), Wuse II (Cadastral Zone A08) and Guzape (Cadastral Zone A09).”
“This contravenes the terms and conditions of grant of the Rights of Occupancy, in line with the provisions of Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act.”
“Consequently, the titles of the properties in default were revoked in March 2025.”
Therefore, from Monday, May 26, 2025, the FCTA will begin to exercise its lawful rights of taking possession of these revoked properties, Olayinka reaffirmed.
End
