The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will begin taking possession of 4,794 properties across Abuja from Monday, May 26, 2025, following the revocation of land titles due to prolonged non-payment of ground rent.
This was disclosed at a press briefing on Friday, May 23, by the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the FCT Minister, Mr. Lere Olayinka; Director of Land Administration, Mr. Chijioke Nwankwoeze; and Director of Development Control, Tpl Mukhtar Galadima.
The affected properties, located in Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape districts, are part of a broader crackdown on titleholders who have defaulted on ground rent payments ranging from 10 to 43 years. Ownership of these properties has now reverted to the FCTA.
“From Monday, the government will begin to exercise its rights of ownership over these properties, regardless of the previous owners,” Olayinka stated, emphasizing that the move is in line with existing laws and regulations.
Tpl Galadima added that the affected properties will be sealed and access restricted as the FCTA decides on their future use.
Responding to reports of legal challenges by some titleholders, Mr. Nwankwoeze clarified that no court ruling currently restrains the FCTA from acting on the revoked titles.
He further disclosed that authorities are compiling records of compliance and non-compliance among titleholders in default of ground rent payments for one to ten years, despite being granted a 21-day grace period. Action will be taken accordingly once the review is complete.
The revoked properties are part of a larger pool of 8,375 titles in default, with total arrears amounting to over ₦6.9 billion. The action is backed by Section 28 (5)(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act, which permits revocation of titles for breach of terms.
The FCTA reaffirmed that ground rent is due annually on January 1, in accordance with the conditions of the Right of Occupancy, and failure to pay constitutes a breach warranting revocation.
