By Stanley Onyekwere
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced a massive enforcement drive targeting property owners in default of ground rents, Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) payments, and land use conversion fees.
Briefing the press yesterday, after the first FCTA Executive Council meeting of 2026 chaired by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, revealed that the administration will begin sealing properties and revoking titles as early as next week.
Disclosing that a primary focus of the 2026 enforcement involves properties that have illegally converted from residential to commercial use, Nwankwoeze highlighted high-profile areas such as Aminu Kano Crescent, Adetokumbo Ademola Crescent, and several streets in Garki Areas of 7 and 8.
He noted that while the FCTA has analyzed these areas and agreed to formalize the conversions in line with planning standards, many title holders have failed to pay the required conversion fees.
“Land was given for residential purposes, you converted it to a bank. You are collecting money from banks every day, but you don’t want to pay the FCTA its due.
“Ground rents for commercial purposes are different from residential. You must pay for that conversion and the adjusted annual ground rents. No “Sacred Cows” in Phase 1 and 2”, Nwankwoeze stated.
The Director warned that the 2026 exercise will be more comprehensive than the 2025 enforcement, which focused primarily on ground rents and resulted in high compliance, as the dragnet extends across both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the capital city.
Nwankwoeze emphasized that the enforcement system is automated and impartial, saying “there are no exceptions. Once we run a query on our system, whoever is owing, your name will come out.
“Even if you are the Minister’s friend or brother, your name will come out. Government bodies, corporate organizations, and private individuals will all be treated the same.”
According to him, despite previous public notices in national dailies and social media, the Council noted that compliance rates remain unsatisfactory.
He said consequently, the FCTA has approved immediate legal actions starting next week, which include: revocation of land titles, sealing of defaulted properties and other legal sanctions necessary to recover outstanding debts.
The FCTA maintains that these revenues are vital for the continued development and maintenance of the city’s infrastructure.
“It’s focused on providing the best world-class infrastructure to the residents of the FCTA.
“You cannot be enjoying the full size of a property and collecting rent without meeting your obligations.
This is the only way the administration will continue to provide infrastructure and maintain the city to the standard we all want”, Nwankwoeze said.
Furthermore, he urged property owners to visit the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) or the Land Administration Department immediately to settle all outstanding debts, including “Right of Occupancy” bills, to avoid the upcoming enforcement.
