President Bola Tinubu has intervened in the ongoing property seizures by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), halted the enforcement actions and issued a 14-day grace period for property owners to settle outstanding ground rent liabilities.
This move followed public outrage after FCTA officials began sealing off thousands of properties across Abuja on Monday, including buildings linked to government agencies and political parties such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
A statement by Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration in the FCT, confirmed the President’s directive. According to the statement, the FCTA had commenced enforcement on 4,794 properties revoked for non-payment of ground rent over periods ranging from 10 to 43 years.
“In compliance with the President’s directive, affected property holders now have 14 days to clear their outstanding Ground Rent with penalties,” the statement read.
Penalty rates vary by location:
- N5 million for properties in the Central Area
- N3 million for Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, and Guzape
- N2 million for Wuse I, Garki I, and Garki II
The directive also covered those who acquired properties without completing legal documentation such as the Minister’s Consent or Deed of Assignment. They now have 14 days to regularise their titles or risk losing them.
FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, further urged all property owners to settle their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) and Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills within the same grace period or face revocation.
Wike emphasized that the timely payment of statutory dues is critical to enabling the FCT administration to execute development projects across Abuja.
Earlier reports confirmed that the National Headquarters of the PDP at Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, was among the sealed properties, drawing widespread attention.
Ground rent is an annual fee paid by landowners for the legal right to occupy and use land within the FCT. The enforcement actions followed Wike’s March 2025 revocation of nearly 5,000 titles over unpaid dues.
