The FCTA also sealed the Chinese Cultural Centre, Wuse, belonging to Jade Garden Restaurants, for non-payment of ground rent for 19 years.

The Director of Land, FCTA, Mr. Chijoke Nwankwoeze, explained during the exercise in Abuja on Monday that the properties had reverted to the FCTA.

Nwankwoeze said that the exercise marked the commencement of taking possession of more than 4,794 revoked properties by the FCTA, over unpaid ground rent amounting to more than N6 billion.

He explained that the FIRS building on Plot 627, Wuse Zone 5, owed the FCTA ground rent for 25 years.

He also said that Access Bank building, on Plot No. 2456, Wuse I, Cadastral Zone A02, Abuja, belonging to Rana Tahir Furniture Nig. Ltd, had also not paid ground rent for 34 years.

He said that the property had thus reverted to the FCTA who had taken possession thereof.

Earlier, the enforcement team sealed Total Energy Petrol Station on plot 534 cadastral zone A02 Wuse Zone 1, belonging to Total Plc, over unpaid ground rent for more than 10 years.

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The Director, Development Control, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, who led the tasks force, said that the action was to take possession of the property which had been revoked in March.

Galadima recalled that the FCTA had announced its decision to take possession of the more than 4,000 revoked properties in the territory for non-payment of ground rent for more than 10 years.

“So, today is just to comply with what we have said that we are going to take over all the revoked properties and we are starting with a plot 534 cadastral zone A02 that Wuse Zone 1, owned by Total PLC,” he said.

Also sealed is the office premises of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons on Plot 2028, Dalaba Street, Wuse, belonging to Nigeria Sugar Company Ltd for the same offence.

Grand Ibro Hotel, on Plot 2359, Wuse Zone 5, whose land title belong to Dubabi and Company was also sealed over 26-year unpaid ground rent, including Mamuda Group Warehouse.

However, shortly after FIRS premises was sealed, the seals were removed, which Galadima described as criminal offence, adding that the FCTA would take a legal action.

Source: NAN

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In the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama and Guzape, a total of 8,375 property owners have not paid Ground Rent in the last 43 years.

This was made known in a press briefing by the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Director of Lands, Chijioke Nwankwoeze.

“It should be noted that the FCTA made numerous publications in national newspapers and announcements on broadcast media since 2023, calling on defaulters to pay up all outstanding bills and ground rents. All these yielded little response, as several allottees failed to pay.

“It is important to state that payment of Ground Rent on landed properties in the FCT is founded on extant legislation. It is clearly stipulated in the terms and conditions of grant of Right of Occupancy, and it is due for payment on the first day of January, each year, without demand.

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“Consequently, a list of land titles in default of payment of Ground Rent have been compiled in the ten oldest districts of Phase 1 of the Federal Capital City (FCC). They are; Central Area District (Cadastral Zone A00), Garki I        (Cadastral Zone A01), Wuse I (Cadastral Zone A02), Garki II (Cadastral Zone A03), Asokoro (Cadastral Zone A04),  Maitama (Cadastral Zone A05), Maitama (Cadastral Zone A06), Wuse II (Cadastral Zone A07),  Wuse II           (Cadastral Zone A08) and Guzape (Cadastral Zone A09).

“As at the end of 2024 and up till today, a total of N6,967,980,119 is owed as Ground Rent by 8,375 property owners. In other words, a total of 8,375 property owners have not paid Ground Rent up to last year, 2024.

“A total of 4,794 land titles are in default of Ground Rent payment for 10 years and above. Meaning that in the listed districts, 4,794 property owners have not paid Ground Rent in the last 10 years.

“This is in contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Rights of Occupancy, in line with the provisions of Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act.

“Consequently, the titles of the properties in default of payment of Ground Rent for 10 years and above have been revoked forthwith.

“A grace of 21 Days is also given to title holders that are in default of payment of Ground Rent for between one and ten years, after which the affected tittles will be revoked.”

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