President Bola Tinubu has intervened in the ongoing crackdown on ground rent defaulters in the Federal Capital Territory, granting a two-week grace period to institutions and individuals owing the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
The intervention comes amid a sweeping enforcement action targeting 4,794 properties across Abuja, which were marked for sealing due to non-payment of statutory ground rents.
At an emergency press briefing on Monday evening, the Director of Land Administration at the FCTA, Mr. Chijioke Nwankwoeze, announced the president’s directive, which gives defaulters 14 days to clear their outstanding ground rent payments along with prescribed penalties.
“By Mr. President’s intervention, holders of the affected properties now have 14 days to settle the outstanding Ground Rents, with associated penalties,” Nwankwoeze said.
According to him, defaulters with properties in prime locations such as the Central Area will pay a penalty of N5 million, in addition to their outstanding rent.
In Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, and Guzape districts, the penalty has been set at N3 million, while property owners in Wuse I, Garki I, and Garki II will pay N2 million in penalties—also exclusive of the rent owed.
Additionally, the FCTA has directed all individuals or institutions that purchased properties but failed to obtain the mandatory Minister’s Consent and register their Deeds of Assignment to do so within 14 days or risk sanctions.
The directive, signed off by FCT Minister Barr. Nyesom Wike (CON), warned that failure to comply within the grace period may result in the revocation of Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) or Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) for the affected properties.
“The Minister has granted a 14-day grace period to all property holders in the FCT to pay up their ground rent bills or risk losing their titles,” the statement read.
Minister Wike also urged property owners to ensure prompt payment of statutory dues in the future, emphasizing that timely compliance is essential to fund the FCT’s development projects.
The move affects several high-profile institutions, including government agencies, private firms, and political parties such as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), which are among those reportedly listed for enforcement.
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