ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has issued a 14-day ultimatum to property owners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who have defaulted on ground rent payments, offering them a final window to regularise their obligations or risk permanent forfeiture of their titles.
The move follows sweeping enforcement actions initiated by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday, May 26, 2025, which saw over 4,700 properties — including prominent government offices and commercial buildings — sealed for non-payment of ground rent spanning 10 to 43 years.
Among those affected were the headquarters of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), an Access Bank branch in Wuse Market, a Total petrol station in the same area, and an office of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in Zone 5.
The sealing of the FIRS office triggered sharp criticism from the tax agency, which described the FCTA’s actions as “malicious” and “unprofessional.”
In response, President Tinubu summoned the FIRS chairman, Zacch Adedeji, for a meeting at the State House in Abuja to address the escalating tensions.
Following the meeting, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, the FCT Director of Land Administration, issued a statement confirming that Tinubu had intervened to provide a 14-day grace period for defaulters to settle outstanding ground rent debts and associated penalties.
According to Nwankwoeze, property owners in the Central Area will be required to pay a penalty of ₦5 million in addition to their accumulated rent arrears.
Defaulters in Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, and Guzape must pay ₦3 million, while those in Wuse I, Garki I, and Garki II will be liable for ₦2 million in penalties.
In addition, individuals who have purchased properties but failed to obtain the mandatory Minister’s Consent or register their Deeds of Assignment must do so within the same two-week period.
“The President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has intervened. Therefore, by Mr. President’s intervention, holders of the affected properties now have 14 days (TWO WEEKS) to settle the outstanding Ground Rents, with associated penalties,” the statement read.
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has also extended the ultimatum to all property owners in the territory, warning that failure to pay outstanding Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) or Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills within the grace period will result in revocation of titles.
In March, the FCTA had revoked 4,794 land titles over similar issues, including that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat, which reportedly failed to pay ground rents for over 19 years.
