Starting Monday, May 26, 2025, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will begin reclaiming 4,794 properties whose titles were revoked due to long-standing non-payment of Ground Rent, some of which have been unpaid for between 10 and 43 years.
This was revealed during a press briefing on Friday by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, alongside Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration, and Mukhtar Galadima, Director of Development Control.
According to the officials, the properties in Central Area, Garki I & II, Wuse I & II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape have now reverted to FCTA ownership, and the government will begin asserting its rights over these assets from Monday.
They clarified that the repossession process will proceed irrespective of who currently occupies or claims ownership of the properties. The exercise, they emphasized, will strictly follow the existing laws and regulatory frameworks.
Mr. Galadima explained that starting Monday, all affected properties will be sealed off, and access will be restricted. Decisions regarding the future use or redevelopment of these properties will be made by the FCTA in due time.
In response to questions about possible legal actions by some titleholders, Mr. Nwankwoeze confirmed that no court has issued any ruling to halt the revocation, meaning the FCTA remains fully empowered to proceed with enforcement.
He also noted that the Administration is currently compiling data on those who defaulted on Ground Rent payments for one to ten years. These individuals were previously given a 21-day grace period to settle their dues. Once the review of compliance is completed, the FCTA will act accordingly.
The officials reminded the public that on March 18, 2025, they had previously announced the revocation of the 4,794 land titles in the ten oldest districts within Phase 1 of the Federal Capital City (FCC). These include:
- Central Area (Cadastral Zone A00)
- Garki I (A01)
- Wuse I (A02)
- Garki II (A03)
- Asokoro (A04)
- Maitama (A05 and A06)
- Wuse II (A07 and A08)
- Guzape (A09)
The revoked properties were among 8,375 titles where owners had defaulted on Ground Rent payments for up to 43 years, with the total amount owed amounting to over ₦6.9 billion.
The failure to pay Ground Rent violates the conditions attached to the Right of Occupancy under the Land Use Act, specifically Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b). This legal provision formed the basis for the March 2025 revocations.
Accordingly, from Monday, May 26, 2025, the FCTA will begin taking control of the properties, enforcing its legal authority through the appropriate government agencies.
They also reiterated that Ground Rent obligations are clearly laid out in land title agreements and are due annually on January 1st, without the need for a demand notice.
