The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced that it will begin the repossession of 4,794 properties on Monday, May 26, 2025, due to the non-payment of Ground Rents spanning from 10 to 43 years.
At a press briefing held Friday in Abuja, Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, made the disclosure alongside Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration, and Mukhtar Galadima, Director of the Department of Development Control.
The properties, which include prominent holdings such as the Wadata Plaza (national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP) in Wuse Zone 5, were revoked in March 2025.
While officials clarified that Wadata Plaza is privately owned and not officially linked to the PDP, they explained that the current owner, Samaila Mamman Kofi, who acquired the building via an assignment, has defaulted on ground rent payments amounting to N2.84 million for the period 1998 to 2025.
Other affected institutions include the Nigeria Postal Authority, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Universities Commission (NUC), Borno State Government, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Federal Ministry of Environment, and the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company.
According to officials, “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 added.
Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, stated that starting Monday, the affected properties would be sealed off and access restricted.
Decisions on future use of the properties will be made subsequently.
Addressing reports of court actions by property owners, Director of Lands, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, said “There was no court decision on the revocation, and so the FCTA is not restricted in the discharge of its lawful functions on the affected properties.”
He noted that a 21-day grace period had been granted to owners owing ground rents between one and ten years, adding, “Government will act accordingly as soon as the records are fully compiled and analysed.”
Nwankwoeze recapped “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.”
“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.”
“As from Monday, May 26, 2025, the FCTA will begin to take possession of the affected properties, using relevant agencies of government.”
“As usual, this will be done without consideration as to ownership of the affected properties. It will be purely in line with extant laws and regulations guiding the process.”
“Recall too 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 titles 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.”
“In March, this year, list of land titles in default of payment of Ground Rent was compiled in the ten oldest districts of Phase 1 of the Federal Capital City (FCC), namely; Central Area District (Cadastral Zone A00), Garki I (Cadastral Zone A01), Wuse I (Cadastral Zone A02), Garki II (Cadastral Zone A03), Asokoro (Cadastral Zone A04), Maitama (Cadastral Zone A05), Maitama (Cadastral Zone A06), Wuse II (Cadastral Zone A07), Wuse II (Cadastral Zone A08) and Guzape (Cadastral Zone A09).”
“In the listed districts, a total of 4,794 land titles were in default of Ground rent payment for 10 years and above.”
“As at then, a total of N6,967,980,119 was being 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.”
“Therefore, from Monday, May 26, 2025, the FCTA will begin to exercise its lawful rights of taking possession of these revoked properties.”
