In a bold move to recover public land, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed off the premises of three major organizations the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Access Bank, and Total Energy over unpaid ground rent.
The exercise, which took place in Wuse, Abuja, marks a serious step in the ongoing effort to reclaim over 4,700 properties revoked by the FCTA.
According to Mr. Chijoke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land at the FCTA, the affected properties have officially reverted to government control.
He explained, “The FIRS building on Plot 627, Wuse Zone 5, owed the FCTA ground rent for 25 years.”
He added that the bank premises, located on Plot No. 2456, Wuse I, Cadastral Zone A02, Abuja, and owned by Rana Tahir Furniture Nig. Ltd, also defaulted for 34 years.
Moreover, Total Energy was not left out of the enforcement action.
The company’s building on Plot 534, Cadastral Zone A02, Wuse Zone 1, was sealed after it was discovered that ground rent had not been paid for over 10 years.
In a related development, the Director of Development Control, Mr. Mukhtar Galadima, confirmed that the FCTA had revoked the properties in March due to the long-term failure to pay.
“So, today is just to comply with what we have said that we are going to take over all the revoked properties and we are starting with Plot 534 Cadastral Zone A02, Wuse Zone 1, owned by Total PLC,” Galadima said.
The sealing of these properties brings into focus the growing issue of unpaid ground rent in the capital territory.
It was gathered that this enforcement marks only the beginning, as the FCTA plans to fully reclaim the over 4,794 properties affected by revocation notices.
Nwankwoeze noted that “the property has thus reverted to the FCTA who has now taken possession thereof,” indicating that the buildings may no longer remain in private use unless payments and negotiations are made.
Furthermore, he said the action sends a clear message to other property owners to take their rent obligations seriously.
Failure to comply could lead to similar enforcement actions.
The FCTA’s firm stance shows there is now a renewed effort to enforce development laws and recover public land lost to years of neglect.
It also signals the need for better systems to prevent such defaults from growing unnoticed for decades.
