The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced that it will begin reclaiming possession of 4,794 properties across several districts of Abuja on Monday, May 26, following their revocation in March 2025 due to non-payment of Ground Rent spanning between 10 and 43 years.
This was disclosed during a press briefing held on Friday by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, alongside Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, and Director of the Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima.
The affected properties are located in Phase 1 of the Federal Capital City (FCC)—specifically within the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape districts.
According to officials, the FCTA will exercise its right of possession through relevant agencies, beginning Monday. Galadima explained that development control officers will begin sealing the affected properties and restricting access to them. The administration will determine the future use or disposal of these properties in due course.
“All affected properties are now under the legal ownership of the FCTA, in accordance with existing laws. Possession will be taken without regard to prior ownership, in line with due process,” Galadima stated.
Addressing potential legal challenges, Nwankwoeze emphasized that there is no subsisting court order restraining the FCTA from enforcing the revocations. He added that a grace period of 21 days had previously been extended to titleholders in default for one to ten years, to allow them to settle outstanding dues.
In total, 8,375 properties were identified earlier this year as being in arrears of Ground Rent, amounting to N6.97 billion in unpaid fees. Of this number, 4,794 properties had been in default for more than a decade and were subsequently revoked in accordance with the Land Use Act, specifically Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b).
Ground Rent is a statutory obligation tied to the grant of a Right of Occupancy in the FCT and is payable annually on January 1st without demand.
Officials reaffirmed that the revocation process was carried out in compliance with legal procedures and is part of the administration’s broader efforts to sanitize land administration and enforce compliance with statutory obligations. The FCTA is currently reviewing the status of the remaining titleholders in default to determine further actions.