Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has revoked 4,794 land titles over alleged non-payment of ground rents.

 

Ground rent is a yearly fee landowners pay for the right to occupy and use their land.

 

In a statement issued on Monday, Lere Olayinka, the special assistant to Wike on public communication, said 8,375 property owners in Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape have not paid ground rent in the last 43 years.

 

In November 2024, the federal capital territory administration (FCTA) published a list of alleged land title debtors in Abuja.

 

Lere said all attempts to make defaulters settle outstanding bills and ground rents yielded little response, noting that several allottees failed to pay.

 

“It is important to state that payment of ground rent on landed properties in the FCT is founded on extant legislation,” the statement reads.

 

“It is clearly stipulated in the terms and conditions of the grant of Right of Occupancy, and it is due for payment on the first day of January each year, without demand.

 

“Consequently, a list of land titles in default of payment of ground rent has been compiled in the ten oldest districts of Phase 1 of the Federal Capital City (FCC).”

 

Olayinka said the districts include Central Area District (cadastral zone A00), Garki I (cadastral zone A01), Wuse I (cadastral zone A02), Garki II (cadastral zone A03), Asokoro (cadastral zone A04), Maitama (cadastral zone A05), Maitama (cadastral zone A06), Wuse II (cadastral zone A07), Wuse II (cadastral zone A08), and Guzape (cadastral zone A09).

 

The minister’s spokesperson said as of the end of 2024 to date, N6,967,980,119 is owed as ground rent by 8,375 property owners.

 

“A total of 4,794 land titles are in default of ground rent payment for 10 years and above,” Olayinka said.

 

“Meaning that in the listed districts, 4,794 property owners have not paid ground rent in the last 10 years.”

 

He said this contravenes the terms and conditions of the grant of the rights of occupancy, in line with the provisions of section 28, subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act.

 

“Consequently, the titles of the properties in default of payment of ground rent for 10 years and above have been revoked forthwith,” he added.

 

Olayinka added that a grace of 21 days has been granted to title holders yet to pay ground rent between one and 10 years, after which the affected titles will be revoked.