The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will begin full-scale repossession of 4,794 landed properties in Abuja from Monday, May 26, 2025, following their revocation due to persistent non-payment of ground rent. The move marks a decisive enforcement of land-use regulations in Nigeria’s capital, targeting high-profile areas such as Maitama, Asokoro, Guzape, Garki, Wuse, and the Central Business District.
At a joint press briefing on Friday, senior FCTA officials confirmed that legal processes have been exhausted and the affected plots, some of which have been in default for over a decade, will be physically reclaimed by the government.
Speaking at the briefing, the Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, emphasized that possession of the revoked properties will commence regardless of the owners’ identities, and access will be sealed without exception.
“This action is being carried out in accordance with extant laws and the Land Use Act. The FCTA has the legal authority to reclaim properties where terms of the grant of occupancy have been violated,” Galadima said.
According to the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, the revoked plots are part of a broader list of 8,375 land titles found to be in default, with some landlords owing as much as 43 years’ worth of ground rent. The total outstanding payment due to the government stands at a staggering N6.97 billion.
Addressing questions on possible legal challenges, Galadima clarified that no court order currently restrains the FCTA from executing the repossession.
“There is no subsisting court decision or injunction stopping the FCTA from discharging its lawful responsibilities. This action is not selective; it is grounded in law and necessary to restore order in land administration,” he explained.
He also noted that defaulters had been given a 21-day grace period after the initial revocation notice issued on March 18, 2025, to regularize their payments.
The repossession targets high-value real estate areas within the Phase 1 districts of the Federal Capital City, including:
Central Area (Cadastral Zone A00)
Garki I & II (Cadastral Zones A01 & A03)
Wuse I & II (Cadastral Zones A02 & A07/A08)
Asokoro (Cadastral Zone A04)
Maitama (Cadastral Zones A05 & A06)
Guzape (Cadastral Zone A09)
The FCTA stated that the decision is in full compliance with Section 28(5)(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act, which empowers the government to revoke a right of occupancy in the event of a breach of the terms, such as non-payment of rent.
Officials reiterated that the FCTA’s action serves as a stern warning to other property owners in default. Agencies within the administration are currently reviewing updated compliance records and will soon take further decisions on additional plots that remain in arrears.
“Land is a valuable and finite resource. The FCTA will not hesitate to act in the public interest when legal obligations are flouted. All landholders in the FCT must take compliance seriously to avoid similar enforcement actions,” Nwankwoeze warned.
The repossession effort aligns with the broader urban policy goals of the FCTA, which include improving fiscal accountability, enforcing town planning standards, and curbing illegal land speculation in Abuja.
Urban development analysts say the move could increase property availability in Abuja’s high-demand districts and reduce long-standing issues with land hoarding and default-induced distortions in the real estate market.
With Abuja’s skyline rapidly evolving, the FCTA’s latest action reinforces the city’s commitment to rule-based governance and sustainable land management. As the administration begins to exercise its rights over the revoked plots from Monday, it sends a clear signal that land title holders must fulfill their obligations—or risk losing valuable assets.