The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will begin the physical repossession of 4,794 properties in Abuja on Monday, May 26, 2025, due to longstanding non-payment of ground rent.
The affected properties have been in default for periods ranging from 10 to 43 years.
The announcement was made at a joint press briefing on Friday by the FCT 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.
According to officials, the revocation of land titles was executed in accordance with Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act, which authorizes the government to reclaim land when the conditions of occupancy are violated.
The repossession will affect properties in several prominent districts of the Federal Capital City, including the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape.
“Ownership of these properties has reverted to the FCTA,” the officials said. “Beginning Monday, the government will enforce its rights without regard to prior ownership.
All actions will comply strictly with existing laws and regulations.”
Earlier, on March 18, the FCTA revealed that the 4,794 properties were part of a larger group of 8,375 defaulters.
This list included high-profile sites such as the under-construction National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Central Business District.
The total outstanding debt exceeds N6.96 billion in unpaid ground rent.
The administration had granted a 21-day grace period for owners owing rent for less than 10 years to settle their debts or face revocation. That deadline has now passed.
Director Nwankwoeze emphasized that ground rent obligations are legally binding and payable annually on January 1, as stipulated in the terms of Right of Occupancy agreements. He noted that the FCTA is reviewing compliance and will proceed accordingly.
Responding to reports of legal challenges, Nwankwoeze stated that no court has issued an injunction against the revocations, and the FCTA remains within its legal rights to act.
Director Galadima added that the enforcement will involve sealing and restricting access to the affected properties starting Monday.
Decisions on future use or allocation will be made subsequently.