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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced that it is gearing up for a sweeping enforcement operation against property owners owing ground rents, Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) fees and land use conversion charges.
Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, made the announcement following the inaugural FCTA Executive Council meeting of 2026, presided over by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike on Wednesday. He disclosed that the sealing of properties and title revocations could start as soon as next week.
Nwankwoeze singled out illegal conversions from residential to commercial use as a top priority, pointing to hotspots such as Aminu Kano Crescent, Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, and streets in Garki Areas 7 and 8. He noted that although the FCTA plans to regularise these under planning guidelines, many owners have dodged the mandatory fees.
“Land was given for residential purposes, you converted it to a bank. You are collecting money from banks every day, but you don’t want to pay the FCTA its due.
“Ground rents for commercial purposes are different from residential. You must pay for that conversion and the adjusted annual ground rents. No ‘sacred cows’ in Phase 1 and 2,” Nwankwoeze stated.
According to him, this year’s drive promises to outstrip last year’s ground rent–focused effort, which saw strong compliance. It will now cover Phases 1 and 2 comprehensively, powered by an impartial automated system.
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“There are no exceptions. Once we run a query on our system, whoever is owing, your name will come out. Even if you are the Minister’s friend or brother, your name will come out. Government bodies, corporate organisations and private individuals will all be treated the same,” he stressed.
Despite repeated warnings via national newspapers and social media, compliance still lags. The council has thus greenlit urgent measures from next week: title revocations, property sealings and further sanctions to recoup debts.
These funds, the FCTA insists, fuel ongoing infrastructure upgrades and city upkeep.
“It’s focused on providing the best world-class infrastructure to the residents of the FCTA.
“You cannot be enjoying the full size of a property and collecting rent without meeting your obligations. This is the only way the administration will continue to provide infrastructure and maintain the city to the standard we all want,” Nwankwoeze said.
He advised defaulters to rush to the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) or the Land Administration Department to clear dues, including “Right of Occupancy” bills, and evade enforcement.
