The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has announced that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will begin the takeover of properties, including the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), over unpaid ground rent, starting Monday, May 26, 2025.
The announcement was made on behalf of Wike during a joint press briefing in Abuja on Friday, featuring key FCTA officials including the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media, Lere Olayinka; Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze; and Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima.
The officials disclosed that 4,794 titles had been revoked for failure to pay ground rent, with some defaults dating back 43 years. Among the affected properties is the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP)’s permanent headquarters, under construction in the Central Business District of Abuja.
“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”, the officials said.
The revocations were carried out under Section 28(5)(a)(b) of the Land Use Act, which empowers the government to reclaim land when the terms of occupancy are violated, the statement said.
The initial default list was drawn from ten of the oldest districts in Phase-1 of the Federal Capital City, covering: Central Area District (Cadastral Zone A00), Garki-I (Cadastral Zone A01), Wuse-I (Cadastral Zone A02), Garki II (Cadastral Zone A03), and Asokoro (Cadastral Zone A04).
Others are Maitama (Cadastral Zone A05 and A06), Wuse-II (Cadastral Zones A07 and A08), and Guzape (Cadastral Zone A09).
The FCTA said the affected owners had defaulted on over N6.96 billion in ground rent, and recalled that the administration had given a 21-day grace period for owners with debts under 10 years, which has now expired.
Speaking during the briefing, the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, emphasised, “It is clearly stipulated in the terms and conditions of the grant of Right of Occupancy, and it is due for payment on the first day of January, each year, without demand.”
Director of Development Control Mukhtar Galadima confirmed that enforcement would begin on Monday. According to him, the FCTA will begin sealing-off the affected properties and restricting access on that day, adding the FCTA will decide what to do with the affected properties in due course.
