By Barth Ikiebe
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed the Wuse Zone 5 office of the PDP National Headquarters, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) over the non-payment of ground rent for 25 years.
Also sealed were a branch of Access Bank and a Total filling station, both located in Wuse District, for allegedly owing ground rent spanning several decades.
In March, the FCTA revoked 4,794 property titles over failure to pay ground rents ranging from 10 to 43 years. Property owners with arrears of less than 10 years were given a 21-day grace period to settle their debts or face sanctions.
The administration had last week announced that it would commence enforcement on Monday, taking possession of properties whose titles had been revoked.
According to officials, the FIRS building owes 25 years in unpaid ground rent, while the Access Bank property has accumulated arrears over 34 years.
A letter dated March 13, 2025, and signed by the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, clarified that the land occupied by the bank was officially allocated to Rana Tahir Furniture Nigeria Limited, and not directly to Access Bank.
“The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, has revoked your rights, interests, and privileges over Plot No. 2456 within Wuse I, Cadastral Zone A02, Abuja,” the letter stated.
It further explained that the revocation was due to “continued contravention of the terms and conditions of the grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rent for thirty-four (34) years.”
FCTA officials said multiple demand notices and public warnings had been issued since 2023, urging defaulting allottees to settle their outstanding liabilities.
The enforcement action is part of a broader crackdown on titleholders across the FCT who have flouted land payment obligations.
Official figures show that 8,375 property owners owe a total of approximately ₦6.97 billion in ground rent arrears—some dating back more than four decades.
Commenting on the exercise, Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, said the administration remains committed to upholding the law and will not hesitate to reclaim land from defaulters.
“These revocations were carried out in line with Section 28(5) of the Land Use Act, which empowers the government to repossess land from individuals or organisations that fail to fulfil the conditions attached to their occupancy rights,” Wike stated.
