By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed several prominent properties in Abuja, including the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office in Zone 5 and a Total filling station in Wuse, due to decades-long failure to pay ground rent.
According to FCTA officials, the FIRS office had defaulted for over 25 years, leading to the revocation of its Right of Occupancy and subsequent sealing of the premises. The Total station, on the other hand, was found to owe ground rent for 34 years.
A letter dated March 13, 2025, signed by the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, confirmed that the affected land originally belonged to Rana Tahir Furniture Nigeria Limited, not Access Bank, and was revoked under the Land Use Act due to prolonged default.
Despite multiple notices issued since 2023, thousands of property owners across Abuja continue to owe ground rent. This latest action is part of a larger enforcement campaign that saw the FCTA revoke 4,794 land titles earlier this year in prime areas like Wuse, Maitama, Asokoro, and Garki. The administration says over 8,000 property owners currently owe nearly N7 billion in unpaid dues, some dating back over 40 years.
