JUST IN: Wike to take possession of 4794 properties revoked in Abuja over unpaid ground rent

This was announced on Friday at a joint press briefing by the FCT Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka; the Director of Land Administration, Mr. Chijioke Nwankwoeze; and the Director of Development Control, Mr. Mukhtar Galadima.

The FCTA says the revocation of the titles was carried out in accordance with the Land Use Act, particularly Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b), which empowers government to reclaim land for violations of the terms of occupancy.

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According to the officials, the government will begin exercising its right of ownership on the properties located across key districts in the Federal Capital City, including Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape.

“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,” they stated.

Recall that on March 18th 2025, the FCTA announced that 4,794 properties, part of a larger list of 8,375 properties in default, among which was the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party currently under construction in the Central Business District, had failed to pay ground rent for at least a decade, with some defaults running as far back as 43 years.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),  Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), National university commission (NUC) and the M.R.S Investment Company Limited (owners of MRS Petrol Stations) were among the defaulters.

Also, the Kaduna State Government, Borno State Government, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, University of Calabar, Nigerian Postal Service and Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) were equally among the institutions caught in the gale of revocation brouhaha.

The administration disclosed that the property owners owed more than N6.96 billion in ground rent, leading to the revocation.

However the Wike-led administration had also granted a 21-day deadline within which those who owed the rents under 10 years could make payments, after which the titles will also be revoked.

Speaking during the press conference, the Director of Land, Nwankwoeze, explained that the grace period had elapsed and that the titles will be revoked in line with extant laws of the FCT.

“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.

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“It is clearly stipulated in the terms and conditions of the grant of Right of Occupancy, and it is due for payment on the first day of January, each year, without demand,” he stated.