BY
Peterside Rejoice Eneky
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed an Access Bank branch, a Total petrol station, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office located in Zone 6, Wuse, Abuja, for failing to pay ground rent for over three decades.
The action, taken on Monday, forms part of a broader enforcement campaign by the FCTA aimed at recovering long-overdue ground rent payments from property owners across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The campaign targets thousands of defaulters who have ignored repeated warnings and notices.
According to official land documents, the property occupied by the Access Bank branch is officially allocated to Rana Tahir Furniture Nigeria Limited, rather than the bank directly. A letter dated 13 March 2025 and signed by Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration, revealed that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory exercised powers under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978 to revoke the rights, interests, and privileges of the owners over Plot No. 2456 within Wuse I, Cadastral Zone A02, Abuja.
The letter emphasized that the revocation was due to a “continued contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Right of Occupancy” by failing to pay the annual ground rents for 34 years. The same violation led to the closure of the Total petrol station and the FIRS office in Abuja.
The FCTA disclosed that since 2023, it has issued several notices and public warnings to all property allottees, urging them to clear outstanding ground rent arrears. Despite these efforts, many property owners have continued to default, forcing the administration to escalate enforcement measures.
This clampdown aligns with a government initiative to enhance revenue generation through strict adherence to land-use laws and to enforce fiscal responsibility among property owners in the FCT. Officials noted that approximately 4,794 properties are slated for similar sanctions if arrears remain unpaid.
The FCTA has urged affected property owners to regularize their payments promptly to avoid further penalties or permanent loss of occupancy rights.
About Author
