Property owners across the Federal Capital Territory have begun making urgent payments of long-overdue ground rents, responding to a 14-day grace period granted by President Bola Tinubu following a major enforcement crackdown by the FCT Administration.
Thousands of defaulters, previously listed in national publications for owing ground rents—some for over four decades—have begun flooding the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) office in a last-minute attempt to avoid the revocation of their property titles.
The FCTA had initially launched a high-profile operation on May 26, sealing nearly 4,800 properties across prime areas such as Maitama, Wuse, Guzape, Asokoro, and Garki. The enforcement affected several high-profile buildings including the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
However, following public outcry and political concerns, President Tinubu intervened, offering a two-week window for owners to pay both outstanding rents and associated penalties. According to the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, penalty fees now range from ₦2 million to ₦5 million depending on the district.
At AGIS headquarters, officials reported a surge in foot traffic. “It’s packed. People are showing up in large numbers, and we’ve had to assign more staff to issue payment tellers quickly,” said AGIS spokesperson Badaru Yakassai. He added that while the office was crowded, many defaulters were also using the agency’s online platform to process their payments via Remita.
Notably, the properties belonging to PDP, NAPTIP, and FIRS were unsealed in line with the President’s directive. Security staff at the PDP Secretariat in Wadata Plaza confirmed that enforcement officials removed the seal on Thursday morning. Meanwhile, NAPTIP and FIRS have resumed normal operations and confirmed their compliance efforts.
NAPTIP spokesperson Vincent Adekoye stated the agency had “acted swiftly to ensure proper documentation and compliance.” FIRS media adviser Dare Adekambi also confirmed the agency’s property was reopened after verification revealed no outstanding liabilities.
As the clock ticks on the President’s ultimatum, the FCTA maintains that non-compliance will result in permanent revocation and reallocation of properties—regardless of social or political status.
