FCTA begins possession of 4,794 revoked properties Monday

Officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) are set to commence taking  possession of revoked Abuja 4,794 land titles, next week.

Our correspondent reports that the affected properties were revoked over non-payment of Ground Rent, for between 10 and 43 years.

Making this disclosure during a  press briefing on Friday, the FCT Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, said the exercise will commence from Monday, May 26, 2025.

He said: “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.”

Similarly, the Director, Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze explained that the 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, bringing to a total of N6,967,980,119 owed as Ground Rent by 8,375 property owners.

This, he said  contravened 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.

He said: “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).

“Therefore, from Monday, May 26, 2025, the FCTA will begin to exercise its lawful rights of taking possession of these revoked properties.

“Recall also 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 tittles 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”.

However, Nwankwoeze revealed that the FCTA was already compiling records of compliance and non-compliance of title holders who were in default of payment of Ground Rent for 1 to 10 years, even after the expiration of the 21 Days grace to pay up.

He maintained  the FCTA will act accordingly as soon as the records are fully compiled and analyzed.

Not left out, the Director,  Department of Development Control of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC),  Mukhtar Galadima, said the to enforce the exercise, all  affected properties will be sealed up and access to them restricted.

Galadima however,  opined that the FCTA will decide what to do with the affected properties after the enforcement  exercise.