The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced it will commence enforcement actions against property owners who have failed to pay their ground rent, land use conversion fees, and other related bills. The crackdown is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
Final Grace Periods Have Expired
This decisive move follows the expiration of multiple grace periods granted to defaulters. The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, confirmed the development in a statement released on Thursday, November 20, 2025.
He clarified that a 14-day grace period for ground rent payment, which was granted after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's intervention on May 26, 2025, expired on June 9, 2025. This means defaulters have had over five months to regularize their payments.
Public Notices and Warnings Issued
The FCTA had previously undertaken extensive public awareness campaigns to notify property owners of their obligations. Notices concerning the reviewed Land Use/Purpose Clause and the associated ₦5 million penalty fee were published in national dailies and online platforms on September 8, 9, and 10, 2025.
A final 14-day extension was specifically granted to defaulters in the highbrow districts of Asokoro, Maitama, Garki, and Wuse within the Federal Capital City. This final grace period is set to end on Monday, November 24, 2025, just two days before enforcement begins.
Who Will Be Affected by the Enforcement?
The enforcement drive will target a broad range of property-related violations. According to the administration, the action will include:
- Defaulters of Ground Rent payments.
- Those who have not paid their Land Use Change/Conversion fees.
- Individuals with outstanding bills for Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) and Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O).
- All individuals who purchased properties from others but have failed to formalize the transaction by obtaining the mandatory Minister’s Consent and registering their Deeds of Assignment.
The FCTA is urging all affected property owners to comply immediately to avoid the legal and financial consequences of the impending enforcement action.
