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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced that it will commence enforcement starting Wednesday, 26 November 2025, targeting property owners who have defaulted on payments related to ground rent, land use change/conversion fees, as well as Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) and Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills across the Federal Capital Territory.
Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. The announcement follows the expiration of several grace periods previously granted to defaulters. Notably, a 14-day final grace period on ground rent payments ended on 9 June 2025, while a similar extension on land use/purpose clause violations will conclude on Monday, 24 November 2025.
These grace periods were initially provided following the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 26 May 2025, with the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, giving defaulters a window to settle their outstanding dues with penalties. Further public notices were published in September 2025, urging compliance with land use conversion fees and penalties of ₦5 million for violations, especially in high-profile districts such as Asokoro, Maitama, Garki, and Wuse.
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The enforcement campaign will also extend to individuals and organisations who have acquired properties but have not completed the mandatory registration processes, including obtaining the Minister’s consent and registering deeds of assignment.
This renewed enforcement effort comes as the FCTA seeks to sanitise the land administration system, recover long-overdue payments, and ensure statutory compliance by all property title holders. The administration has warned that no exceptions will be made, regardless of the defaulters’ status, marking a firm stance on property fee compliance in Abuja.
The FCTA’s upcoming crackdown is part of an ongoing effort that previously saw the sealing of several properties in Abuja for unpaid ground rents, a move that attracted significant public attention. The fresh enforcement signals a decisive step to address persistent defaults and strengthen land governance in the Federal Capital Territory.
