Wike cancels 4,794 land titles over unpaid ground rent

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has revoked 4,794 land titles due to non-payment of ground rent for over a decade.

Lere Olayinka, the minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, made this announcement during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday.

According to Olayinka, a total of 8,375 property owners owe approximately N6.97 billion in ground rent as of the end of 2024.

He noted that most of the defaulters are located in key areas such as the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape, with some failing to make payments for the past 43 years.

He explained that failure to pay the required fees violates the terms and conditions of land allocation under Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act.

Ground rent, he emphasized, is a legal obligation that must be paid annually, starting from January 1st, without requiring a reminder.

The FCTA had previously published notices in national newspapers and broadcast media since 2023, urging defaulters to settle their outstanding bills.

However, Olayinka noted that compliance remained low, leading to the revocation of properties that have defaulted for 10 years or more.

A 21-day grace period has been granted to those who have not paid for one to 10 years, after which their land titles will also be revoked.

Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Lands at the FCTA, stated that the affected properties are primarily in the 10 oldest districts within Phase 1 of the Federal Capital City.

He added that revocation notices would be issued to both private individuals, companies, and government organizations within Cadastral Zones A01 to A09.

Nwankwoeze further revealed that the process would be carried out in phases, with Phase II—including districts such as Gudu, Durumi, Wuye, Katampe, Jabi, Mabushi, Utako, and Daki Biyu—being the next target.

With the revocation, ownership of the affected properties now reverts to the FCTA, and the minister will determine the next steps regarding their use.