The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced that enforcement actions will commence from November 26 against property owners who have failed to meet statutory financial obligations required for land ownership and property documentation in Abuja. The enforcement drive will target defaulters of ground rent, land use change fees, conversion fees, and outstanding charges on Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O), Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O), and related documentation processes.
This decisive step was disclosed by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. According to the statement, the FCTA is preparing a large-scale compliance operation aimed at compelling defaulting property owners to clear overdue bills or face penalties that may include denial of government services, legal recovery procedures, or possible revocation of land titles where applicable.
The clampdown is part of a renewed effort by the administration to strengthen internally generated revenue, improve transparency in land administration, and restore order and financial discipline to Abuja’s increasingly complex property market.
Why the Enforcement Campaign Is Starting Now
The renewed move toward enforcement is not spontaneous. The FCTA had earlier issued public warnings and introduced a compliance window in May 2025, following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu. At the time, Minister Nyesom Wike offered a 14-day grace period for defaulters to clear outstanding payments, including cumulative penalties and charges that had remained unpaid for years.
According to the administration, most property owners did not take advantage of the window, leading to continued accumulation of unpaid fees that are needed to fund public services and infrastructure across the Federal Capital Territory.
Officials say the new exercise is now unavoidable, as widespread non-compliance has significantly impacted revenue projections for the administration, forcing delays in planning, service delivery, and expansion of development projects.
Who Is Affected by the Crackdown?
The FCTA enforcement exercise targets individuals and corporate property owners across Abuja who have failed to:
- Pay ground rent obligations
- Clear land use change charges
- Pay conversion fees where applicable
- Settle outstanding R-of-O or C-of-O bills
- Register changes in property ownership
- Obtain Ministerial consent for property transfers
- Submit and register deeds of assignment for sold properties
Under Nigerian land administration laws, property owners in the FCT are required to obtain Ministerial consent before selling or transferring legal rights to another person. The deeds must then be registered for proper documentation.
However, thousands of properties in Abuja have changed hands without these legal processes being completed, leaving government databases outdated and complicating land verification and security audits.
Officials argue that streamlining property documentation protects buyers, strengthens public record systems, and improves planning for services such as roads, waste management, utilities, and security.
A Long-Standing Problem in Abuja’s Land System
Since Abuja’s emergence as the nation’s capital, recurring challenges in the land and housing sector have included:
- Widespread non-payment of ground rent
- Unregistered property transfers
- Illegal residential conversions of commercial plots and vice-versa
- Bypassing of administrative processes in C-of-O issuance
- Loss of government revenue due to informal property market practices
Ground rent is a mandatory annual charge payable to the government by holders of land within Abuja. Yet, over the years, thousands of property owners have failed to comply—many accumulating years of unpaid obligations.
Past administrations attempted enforcement, but officials say the lapses persisted due to weak monitoring, political interference, and challenges identifying property owners.
Nyesom Wike, since assuming office, has repeatedly vowed to overhaul the system, restore administrative control, and ensure that those benefiting from land in the capital comply with financial and legal requirements.
Why Property Owners May Want to Take the Warning Seriously
The new enforcement campaign is expected to use multiple strategies, including:
- Property audit and verification
- Demand notices and recovery letters
- Denial of access to public services for non-compliant property owners
- Legal recovery actions
- Potential revocation of land titles in cases of persistent default
- Publication of the names of major defaulters
Officials are also expected to collaborate with courts, development authorities, and private estate developers to ensure that no buyer or owner can bypass registration procedures.
For property owners who intend to sell a property or secure a mortgage, failure to comply could result in:
- Delayed property transactions
- Inability to legally transfer ownership
- Disqualification from building or renovation approvals
- Risk of title disputes
Experts note that a more disciplined land registry system benefits the public by ensuring transparent ownership records, reducing fraud, speeding up property searches, and protecting legal buyers.
Revenue Pressure and Abuja’s Urban Transformation Agenda
Minister Wike has maintained that Abuja must generate the revenue it needs to fund its development instead of relying almost entirely on federal allocations.
Over the past year, the FCTA has committed resources to major urban reforms, including:
- Road expansion and maintenance
- New city planning initiatives
- Demolition of illegal developments
- Slum redevelopment
- Transport modernization
- Beautification and greening campaigns
- Improved waste management
- Modernization of land registries and zoning systems
Ground rent, land charges, and property transfer fees represent some of the most significant channels of internally generated revenue (IGR) for the FCTA.
Officials argue that high-value property owners cannot continue defaulting while expecting government to maintain basic urban services from a shrinking revenue base.
Public Awareness Campaign Now in Full Swing
Ahead of the November 26 launch, the FCTA has been circulating notices through government platforms and media channels, notifying property owners of the impending action.
The administration believes that adequate notice has been given, and the time has now come for enforcement rather than persuasion.
According to Olayinka’s statement, the Minister has instructed agencies responsible for land management, legal enforcement, and urban administration to work in coordination to ensure the success of the operation.
What Property Owners Should Do Now
To avoid penalties, property owners are expected to:
- Visit relevant FCTA departments to verify outstanding balances
- Clear unpaid ground rents and land charges immediately
- Register past and recent property transfers
- Obtain necessary consents from the Minister where applicable
- Complete documentation for C-of-O and R-of-O processing
In addition, buyers who purchased property informally—especially through private sales or estate arrangements—are advised to validate their records to avoid future complications.
The move also prioritizes accurate data entry into Abuja’s digital property database, improving planning and preventing cases of multiple ownership claims.
Outlook: A Turning Point for Abuja’s Property Market?
If fully implemented, the November 26 enforcement drive may:
- Increase government revenue significantly
- Improve credibility of property records
- Reduce real estate fraud
- Strengthen security surveillance systems
- Encourage proper documentation culture
- Modernize Abuja’s property market operations
However, the scale of compliance required means that many property owners may be caught unprepared. Analysts note that the government must ensure that payment platforms and land departments are efficient enough to handle the surge of last-minute applications and inquiries.
Still, with Abuja expanding rapidly and development pressures rising, officials insist that the era of lax enforcement must end.
As Nigeria’s administrative and diplomatic capital, Abuja must reflect a well-organized land system capable of supporting urban growth, economic confidence, and modern governance.
Conclusion
With the deadline now set, thousands of defaulting property owners in Abuja are racing against time to regularize their land documentation before enforcement begins on November 26. The FCTA maintains that compliance is not optional, insisting that orderly property administration is essential to the city’s development and sustainability.
Property owners, buyers, and estate developers are therefore advised to use the remaining window to settle outstanding obligations in order to avoid the inevitable penalties that will follow once enforcement begins.
