THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked 4,794 land titles due to non-payment of ground rent amounting to N6.9 billion for more than 40 years.
Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, In a statement yesterday, confirmed the revocation, following a briefing by the Director of Lands, Chijioke Nwanwkoeze.
According to the statement, 8,375 property owners across Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape had defaulted on ground rent payments for over 43 years.
Of this number, 4,794 land titles have been in default for 10 years or more, prompting the FCT Administration (FCTA) to revoke them immediately.
Olayinka stated that payment of ground rent is mandated by extant laws and is clearly outlined in the terms and conditions of the Right of Occupancy grant, which requires annual payments on January 1, without demand.
The FCTA had made multiple public notices since 2023, urging defaulters to clear their debts, but many failed to comply. For defaulters owing between one and ten years, Wike has granted a 21-day grace period to settle their outstanding ground rent. Failure to comply within this period will result in revocation of their land titles.
Meanwhile, Wike has directed the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority (FCDA), Richard Dauda, to immediately disburse N1.3 billion in compensation to residents of Gishiri Community.
The directive followed a demolition exercise to clear structures obstructing the construction of Arterial Road N16, linking the community with Katampe District.
Residents alleged that the Department of Resettlement and Compensation only paid N72,000 instead of the approved amount, and refused to compensate non-indigenes whose properties were demolished. Reacting to this, Wike condemned the discrimination, insisting that all affected property owners must be compensated, regardless of their origin.
He emphasized that government compensation is based on property ownership, not ethnicity, questioning why some affected individuals were excluded.
The minister further warned that he would sack Dauda if the full compensation was not paid immediately.