By Kolawole Ojebisi
The federal Capital Territory ministry on Monday, made true its threat to seal off companies or firms owning ground rents.
This is as the Federal Capital Territory Administration(FCTA) shut an Access Bank branch and a Total petrol station located in Wuse, Abuja, alleging that the two companies have refused to pay their ground rents for the past 34 years.
It maintained that the action is part of a broader enforcement initiative targeting property owners who have defaulted on their statutory obligations.
This is contained in a letter dated March 13, 2025, and signed by Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director, Land Administration.
According to the letter, the affected property was officially allocated to Rana Tahir Furniture Nigeria Limited, and not Access Bank directly.
“The Minister of Federal Capital Territory has in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, revoked your rights, interests and privileges over Plot No. 2456 within Wuse I, Cadastral Zone A02, Abuja.” the letter reads in part.
The FCTA stressed that the wilful default in ground rent payment could no longer be tolerated, hence the revocation.
“The revocation is in view of your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for Thirty Four (34) years.” the letter added.
The letter also stated that several notices and publications had been made since 2023, warning all allottees to clear outstanding bills.
The closures come in the wake of a significant crackdown by the FCTA, which recently revoked 4,794 land titles across Abuja’s prime districts—including Wuse, Maitama, Asokoro, and Garki—over unpaid ground rents spanning more than a decade.
According to FCTA officials, a total of 8,375 property owners owe approximately ₦6.97 billion in ground rent arrears, some dating back over 40 years .
While justifying the move, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, emphasized that the revocations were executed in accordance with Section 28(5) of the Land Use Act, which permits the government to reclaim land from titleholders who fail to meet the conditions of their occupancy rights.
