Thousands of property owners in Abuja will lose possession of their assets beginning Monday, May 26, 2025, as the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) moves to enforce the revocation of 4,794 land titles over prolonged failure to pay ground rent—some spanning up to 43 years.
The FCTA made the announcement through Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, alongside Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration, and Mukhtar Galadima, Director of Development Control.
The administration stated that the takeover will be executed regardless of ownership status, strictly in line with existing laws and regulations. Among the revoked properties is the Wadata Plaza, former national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Wuse Zone 5, which was officially revoked on March 19, 2025. Though no longer owned by the PDP, the building’s current owner, Samaila Mamman Kofi, reportedly owes 28 years of unpaid rent, amounting to ₦2.84 million.
The affected properties also include those belonging to several high-profile institutions such as the Nigeria Postal Authority, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Universities Commission (NUC), Borno State Government, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), the Ministry of Environment, and the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company.
“These properties located in key districts including Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape have legally reverted to the FCTA,” officials said. “Beginning Monday, we will begin taking possession of the affected sites without regard to individual or institutional ownership.”
Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, said the properties will be sealed off and access restricted, while further decisions will be taken later regarding their use. Dismissing reports that some affected owners had sought legal relief, Director of Lands Chijioke Nwankwoeze insisted no court ruling currently prevents the FCTA from proceeding with its enforcement.
He added that the administration had earlier identified 8,375 properties in the ten oldest districts of Phase 1 of the Federal Capital City for defaulting on ground rent payments ranging from one to 43 years, amounting to a total debt of ₦6.97 billion. Affected titleholders who had defaulted for one to ten years were given a 21-day grace period, which has since expired.
According to the FCTA, all actions are being taken in line with the terms of land ownership as outlined under Section 28(5)(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act.
