By Barth Ikiebe
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday sealed off several high-profile properties in Abuja, including the Wuse Zone 5 office of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Headquarters and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), for failing to pay ground rent spanning up to 25 years.
Also affected were a branch of Access Bank and a Total filling station, both located within the Wuse District. Authorities allege that these properties have defaulted on ground rent payments for decades.
The clampdown follows the FCTA’s March 2025 revocation of 4,794 land titles over unpaid ground rents ranging from 10 to 43 years. Property owners owing for less than 10 years were granted a 21-day grace period to settle their debts or risk similar sanctions.
FCTA officials said enforcement began as planned on Monday, targeting properties whose titles had already been revoked. According to them, the FIRS building owes 25 years in unpaid ground rent, while the Access Bank site has accumulated arrears over a 34-year period.
A letter dated March 13, 2025, and signed by the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, revealed that the land housing Access Bank was originally allocated to Rana Tahir Furniture Nigeria Limited, not the bank itself.
“The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, in the exercise of powers conferred 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 read.
It explained that the revocation was due to the continuous violation of the Right of Occupancy terms, particularly the failure to pay annual ground rent for 34 years.
FCTA officials noted that multiple demand notices and public warnings had been issued since 2023, urging defaulters to clear their outstanding liabilities.
The action is part of a broader campaign to recover ground rent arrears from titleholders across the Federal Capital Territory.
According to official data, a total of 8,375 property owners owe nearly ₦7 billion in ground rent, some stretching back more than four decades.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike reaffirmed the administration’s resolve to enforce land laws without exception.
“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,” he stated.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
