Following the commencement of an enforcement drive against properties in the FCT owing arrears of ground rent by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), which saw the sealing up of many public and private buildings in parts of Abuja, President Bola Tinubu has intervened to give the defaulters a second chance.
President Bola Tinubu stepped in to temporarily halt the FCTA enforcement drive against property owners over unpaid ground rent. He ordered the FCTA led by Nyesom Wike to give an additional 14-day grace period to enable defaulters pay their ground rent arrears.
The FCTA made this announcement in a statement issued by Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration for the FCT. The statement reads:
“Today, May 26, 2025, we commenced enforcement on the 4,794 properties revoked for non-payment of Ground Rent, from 10 to 43 years.
“Properties owned by government institutions, corporate organisations and individuals were affected. This demonstrates the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s commitment to carrying out its functions without fear or favour.
“However, the President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has intervened. Therefore, by Mr. President’s intervention, holders of the affected properties now have 14 days (TWO WEEKS) to settle the outstanding Ground Rents, with associated penalties.
“For properties in the Central Area, the sum of N5 million will be paid by the defaulters as penalty, in addition to the Ground Rent owed.
“Those in Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, and Guzape Districts will pay the sum of N3 million as penalty, in addition to the Ground Rent owed.
“Defaulters in Wuse I, Garki I and Garki II will pay N2 million as penalty in addition to the Ground Rent owed.
“Also, all those who purchased properties from other people, but are yet to register their interests by obtaining the mandatory Minister’s Consent and registering their Deeds of Assignment now have 14 days (TWO WEEKS) to do so at the FCT Department of Land Administration.
“Furthermore, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, has granted a 14 days (TWO WEEKS) grace period to all property holders in the FCT to pay up their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O)/Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills, or risk revocation of those titles.
“Going forward, the Minister has advised property owners in the FCT to ensure that they pay all necessary bills and charges on their properties as at and when due, so as to enable the government to continue to carry out necessary developmental projects for the benefit of the people.”
On Monday, FCTA officials sealed off many properties across Nigeria’s capital city over unpaid ground rent arrears. Major properties sealed include office of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in Wuse, NAPTIP headquarters, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat among many others. FIRS had swiftly released a statement saying it was not owing FCTA any 25 years arrears of ground rent havimg paid ground rent on all its properties up till 2023.