The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has revoked 4,794 land titles in Abuja due to unpaid ground rent amounting to N6.9 billion.
News About Nigeria learnt that this decision follows years of non-compliance, with some debts dating back over four decades.
The announcement was made in a statement by Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.
It was also confirmed by the Director of Lands, Chijioke Nwanwkoeze, during a press briefing.
According to officials, 8,375 property owners in major districts, including the Central Area, Garki, Wuse, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape, failed to pay the required fees for 43 years.
Records show that 4,794 of these land titles had gone unpaid for at least ten years, leading to their immediate cancellation.
The remaining defaulters, whose debts are below ten years, have been given 21 days to settle their outstanding payments or risk losing their properties.
Authorities explained that multiple reminders had been issued through newspapers and broadcast media since 2023, urging defaulters to pay.
However, many property owners ignored the notices, leading to the current crackdown.
The government reiterated that the payment of ground rent is a legal requirement under the terms of the Right of Occupancy and is due every January 1st without demand.
In a separate development, Wike directed the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority, Richard Dauda, to ensure full compensation for residents of the Gishiri community, who were affected by a demolition exercise.
The minister warned that failure to disburse the approved N1.3 billion compensation could lead to Dauda’s dismissal.
The residents had complained that they received only N72,000 instead of the approved amount, while non-indigenes were reportedly excluded from payments despite losing their properties.
Wike insisted that compensation must not be based on ethnicity and ordered that all affected residents be paid accordingly.
