The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced that beginning Monday, it will take physical possession of properties affected by the revocation of 4,794 land titles over non-payment of Ground Rent spanning between 10 and 43 years.
The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja.
He was joined by the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, and the Director of the Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima.
The affected titles, revoked in March this year, involve longstanding defaults, with some dating back over four decades. Notable among the defaulting title holders are major government agencies and institutions such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), and CONOIL Plc.
Others include the Borno and Kaduna State Governments, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), National Universities Commission (NUC), MRS Investment Company, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, University of Calabar, Nigerian Postal Service, and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
According to Mr Olayinka, the FCTA will enforce the revocation across Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape districts, regardless of ownership.
“Ownership of the revoked 4,794 properties had already reverted to the FCTA. As from Monday, the government will begin to exercise its rights of ownership on the affected properties, in strict adherence to the relevant laws and regulations,” he stated.
Director of Development Control, Mr Galadima, explained that enforcement would begin with sealing off the properties and restricting access, after which the FCTA would determine the next course of action for each parcel of land.
Addressing concerns that some property owners had taken legal action, Mr Nwankwoeze clarified that there was no court ruling restraining the FCTA from acting, and therefore, the administration remains empowered to proceed with its statutory duties.
He further disclosed that the FCTA is compiling a separate list of title holders who have defaulted on Ground Rent payments for between one and 10 years, even after the expiration of a 21-day grace period. Appropriate action will be taken once the analysis is complete.
“Recall that on March 18, 2025, we informed you of the revocation of 4,794 land titles in key districts of the FCT,” he said. “These were part of the 8,375 land titles on which Ground Rent had not been paid for periods ranging from one to 43 years. In total, the outstanding amount owed by these defaulters stands at ₦6.96 billion.”
Mr Nwankwoeze reaffirmed that the revocation was carried out by Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act, which empowers the government to revoke titles for breaches of the terms of occupancy.
