26/05/2025
ATTENTION, LAND OWNERS IN ABUJA.
FCTA PRESS RELEASE
FCTA SET TO TAKE POSSESSION OF 4,794 REVOKED PROPERTIES
…EXERCISE COMMENCES ON MONDAY
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will, from Monday, May 26, 2025, begin to take possession of properties affected by the revocation of 4,794 land titles over non-payment of Ground Rent, for between 10 and 43 years.
This was disclosed during a press briefing on Friday, May 23, 2025, by the FCT Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, the Director, Land Administration, Mr. Chijioke Nwankwoeze and the Director, Department of Development Control, Tpl Mukhtar Galadima.
While speaking Mr. Olayinka said: “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 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.
“As usual, this will be done without consideration as to ownership of the affected landed properties. It will be purely in line with extant laws and regulations guiding the process.”
Explaining further, the Director, Development Control, said that affected properties will be sealed up and access to them restricted as from Monday. He said the FCTA will decide what to do with the affected properties in due course.
On the claim that some property owners had gone to court, the Director of Lands stated that there was no court decision on the revocation, and as such, the FCTA is not restricted in the discharge of its lawful functions on the affected properties.
Mr. Nwankwoeze also disclosed that the FCTA was already compiling records of compliance and non-compliance of title holders who were in default of payment of Ground Rent for one to ten years, even after the 21 Days grace to pay up. He said the government will act accordingly as soon as the records are fully compiled and analyzed.
The Director Land Administration said: “Recall that on March 18, 2025, we informed you of the 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, bringing to a total of N6,967,980,119 owed as Ground Rent by 8,375 property owners.
“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.
“We did say then that consequent upon the revocation of these titles, ownership of the affected properties has reverted to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). Therefore, from Monday, May 26, 2025, the FCTA will begin to exercise its lawful rights of taking possession of these revoked properties”.
Mr Nwankwoeze further explained, “Recall also that a grace of 21 Days was given to title holders that were in default of payment of Ground Rent for between one and ten years, to pay up or have their land tittles revoked.
“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”.
RABI MUSA UMAR
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, PRESS
(OFFICE OF THE HON. MINISTER)
23/05/2025
FCTA/ODP/PR/689.
