President Bola Tinubu has stepped in to give property owners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) a 14-day grace period to settle outstanding ground rent debts or face the loss of their land titles.
The intervention comes after the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) launched a sweeping enforcement operation on Monday, sealing 4,794 properties that had defaulted on ground rent payments for periods ranging from 10 to 43 years.
Among the properties sealed 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, and a Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office in Zone 5.
The sealing of the FIRS building prompted sharp criticism from the tax authority, which called the action “malicious” and “unprofessional.” President Tinubu later met with FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji at the State House in Abuja, leading to the announcement of a temporary reprieve for affected property owners.
In a statement on Monday, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration for the FCT, confirmed the president’s intervention and outlined the conditions of the 14-day grace period.
According to the statement, defaulters in high-end areas such as the Central Business District will have to pay a penalty of ₦5 million in addition to their outstanding ground rent. Those in Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, and Guzape will pay a ₦3 million penalty, while those in Wuse I, Garki I, and Garki II will face a ₦2 million fine.
Property owners who bought land but have yet to register their ownership through the required Minister’s Consent now also have 14 days to complete this process.
In addition, the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, has extended the grace period to all property holders to settle their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) or Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills within two weeks or risk having their titles revoked.
This is not the first time the FCTA has taken action. In March, it revoked the land title of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat in the Central Business District over unpaid ground rent spanning 19 years.
The FCTA previously stated that owners of the affected 4,794 properties could still appeal for reinstatement of their titles—but only if they comply with all outstanding obligations.