FCTA Cracks Down On Non-Payment Of Ground Rent, Seals Access Bank, FIRS Office, And Total Petrol Station In Abuja.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has taken decisive action against property owners defaulting on ground rent payments, sealing an Access Bank branch in Wuse, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office in Zone 5, and a TotalEnergies petrol station in Zone 3, all in Abuja. The closures, announced on Monday, are part of a broader enforcement campaign targeting non-compliance with statutory land obligations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The FCTA’s enforcement team moved swiftly to shut down the Access Bank branch in Wuse and the TotalEnergies petrol station in Zone 3, citing failure to pay ground rent as the primary reason. The FIRS office in Zone 5 was also sealed, with officials noting that the agency had not paid ground rent for 25 years. These actions follow the FCTA’s revocation of 4,794 land titles in March 2025 across prime districts, including Wuse, Garki, Maitama, Asokoro, and Guzape, due to unpaid ground rent amounting to approximately ₦6.97 billion, some dating back over four decades.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has been a vocal advocate for recovering outstanding ground rent to bolster the territory’s internally generated revenue (IGR). Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the minister emphasised that payment of ground rent is a legal requirement under the Land Use Act, due annually on 1 January without demand. “The FCTA is acting in line with extant laws. Ownership of these properties has reverted to the FCTA, and we are exercising our rights,” Olayinka stated during a press briefing.
The closures have sparked varied reactions. Some residents and commentators on X praised the FCTA’s resolve, with one user describing Wike’s approach as “a bold move to enforce accountability.” Others expressed concern over the economic impact, noting that sealing major institutions like Access Bank and FIRS could disrupt services. The TotalEnergies petrol station’s closure, in particular, has raised fears of fuel supply disruptions in Zone 3.
The FCTA’s crackdown follows repeated warnings issued since 2023, urging property owners to settle outstanding debts. A 21-day grace period was granted earlier this year for those with arrears of less than 10 years, but the affected properties, including those sealed on Monday, were among the 4,794 titles revoked for non-payment spanning 10 to 43 years. The FCTA is now compiling records to address remaining defaulters, with further enforcement actions expected.
Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration, clarified that no court rulings have halted the FCTA’s actions, dismissing claims of legal challenges by some property owners. “The law is clear, and we are proceeding accordingly,” he said. The FCTA has urged property owners to verify their ground rent status via the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) portal or by visiting its office to avoid penalties or revocation.
This enforcement drive underscores the FCTA’s commitment to improving fiscal discipline and funding infrastructure development in Abuja. However, it also highlights the challenges of managing land tenure in a rapidly growing capital city, where non-compliance has long been overlooked. As the FCTA continues its efforts, residents and businesses are urged to settle their ground rent obligations promptly to avoid further sanctions.
