May 26, (THEWILL) – The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Monday, sealed the Wuse Zone 5 office of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) over non-payment of Ground Rent for 25 years.
The Administration also sealed an Access Bank branch, a Total petrol station located in Wuse District and the premises of the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), over non-payment of ground rents for decades.
The administration had in March revoked 4,794 property titles for failing to pay their ground rents from 10 to 43 years. Thousands of others who were owing less than 10 years were given a grace of 21 days to pay up or face similar sanctions.
FCTA had last week said it will, on Monday, begin to take possession of the 4,794 properties whose titles were revoked.
While the FIRS office reportedly owes 25 years in arrears, the bank’s building has 34 years unpaid.
In a letter dated March 13, 2025, signed by the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, the FCTA stated that the affected property was officially allocated to Rana Tahir Furniture Nigeria Limited, not Access Bank directly
“The Minister of Federal Capital Territory has, in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, revoked your rights, interests and privileges over Plot No. 2456 within Wuse I, Cadastral Zone A02, Abuja”, the letter read.
It further noted, “The revocation is in view of your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of the grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for Thirty-Four (34) years.”
Located at Plot No. 243 within Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja, the PDP has failed to pay the annual ground rents due on its property for twenty (20) years.
“The revocation is in view of your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of the grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from 1st of January 2006 to 1st of January 2025. This is despite the many publications made by the FCT Administration since 2023 in several national dailies and on electronic media requesting all allottees of plots in the Federal Capital Territory to pay up every outstanding bills and ground rents on their properties. You would please note that the said breaches by Peoples Democratic Party, National Secretariat (MISC 81346) run contrary to the provisions of Section 28, Subsection 5 (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act”, the FCTA said in a letter earlier in March.
FCTA officials revealed that several notices and public announcements had been issued since 2023, urging allottees to settle outstanding ground rent bills.
The recent enforcement marks part of a broader crackdown on property titleholders across the capital city.
According to official figures, a staggering 8,375 property owners are currently owing approximately N6.97 billion in ground rent arrears—some dating back over four decades.
Speaking on the development, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, reiterated the government’s commitment to enforcing land laws strictly and fairly.
“These revocations were executed in accordance with Section 28(5) of the Land Use Act, which permits the government to reclaim land from titleholders who fail to meet the conditions of their occupancy rights”, he said.
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