The Federal Capital Territory Administration has issued a final warning to property owners in Abuja's most exclusive neighborhoods who have violated land use regulations. Minister Nyesom Wike has granted a conclusive 14-day grace period for compliance before enforcement actions commence.
Final Opportunity for Regularization
According to an official statement released by the Minister's Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, this new deadline becomes effective from Tuesday, November 11, 2025. Property owners in the affected upscale districts must regularize their land titles and pay a N5 million violation fee within this period to avoid severe consequences.
This extension follows the expiration of an earlier 30-day window that was granted to affected allottees after public notices were issued between September 8 and 10, 2025. The FCT Administration has made it clear that defaulters who fail to meet this final deadline will face immediate enforcement measures.
Affected Areas and Streets
The crackdown specifically targets property owners in Abuja's most prestigious districts, including Asokoro, Maitama, Garki, and Wuse. The comprehensive list of affected streets includes:
Maitama District: Gana Street and Usuma Street
Asokoro District: Yakubu Gowon Crescent
Wuse II District: Aminu Kano Crescent and Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent
Garki II District: Ladoke Akintola Boulevard, Gimbiya Street, and Onitsha Street
Garki I District: Ogbomosho Street, Lafia Close, Yola Street, Abriba Close, Danbatta Street, Ringim Close, and Ilorin Street
Incentives and Exclusions
In a significant development, Minister Wike has approved the issuance of fresh title documents for compliant property owners. Those who meet all requirements will receive Statutory Rights of Occupancy and Certificates of Occupancy with a renewed 99-year term.
However, this concession explicitly excludes titles that have already been revoked for specific violations. Properties revoked due to non-development, non-payment of ground rent, or other serious infractions will not benefit from this regularization opportunity.
Revenue Surge and Infrastructure Development
The Guardian's investigations reveal that the stricter land administration enforcement under Minister Wike has generated remarkable financial results. Annual revenue from land-related charges in the FCT has surpassed ₦1 trillion, representing the highest collection in the territory's history.
Officials from the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) and the Department of Land Administration attribute this revenue explosion to aggressive recovery of unpaid ground rents, imposition of new penalties, and increased processing fees for certificates and occupancy rights.
A senior FCTA official disclosed impressive growth figures: "From about ₦40 billion generated last December, land revenue has been climbing steadily. At the current pace, we could hit ₦100 billion monthly by year-end, crossing the ₦1 trillion mark."
Analysts connect this revenue growth to increased demand for plots, driven by the administration's extensive road infrastructure program across Abuja's districts and area councils. Notable projects include the Kabusa–Takushara and Kabusa–Ketti access roads, the 15km A2 Junction–Pia Road in Kwali, the Kwaita/Yebu Road, and several dual carriageways connecting Dutse, Gwagwalada, and Katampe.
Growing Concerns and Criticism
Despite the infrastructural advancements, anxiety is mounting among the 260,000 landowners and 443 estate developers affected by the minister's two-year mandatory development policy. Many stakeholders express concerns that the stringent deadlines and new fees, including a 21-day payment requirement for acceptance and documentation, could lead to mass revocations and potential reallocation of plots to politically connected individuals.
Real estate developer Shehu Nuhu described the policy as "draconian" and argued that it fails to consider the prevailing economic challenges. "The policy is not about development but about creating artificial breaches to enable reallocation of land under ministerial discretion," he asserted.
Nuhu has called on President Bola Tinubu to order an independent review of the FCT land reform framework and suspend ongoing revocations pending comprehensive stakeholder consultations.
Ordinary residents like Patrick Okoh and Nabel Ikame echo these concerns, noting that the cost of securing Certificates of Occupancy has become prohibitive. With fees ranging from ₦3.5 million to ₦6 million, including advisory charges, many citizens, particularly civil servants, find these costs unaffordable.
Government's Stance and Legal Authority
Minister Wike maintains that the reforms primarily aim to curb land speculation rather than dispossess legitimate owners. "Anyone who cannot develop a plot in two years is a speculator. Land in Abuja is not for decoration," he stated emphatically.
The Minister defended the 21-day deadline for fee payments as "reasonable and necessary" to enhance efficiency and boost government revenue. He emphasized that he possesses the legal authority to enforce the new framework, which also covers regularisation of area council land titles, revised Right of Occupancy conditions, and titling of mass housing projects.
Recent checks by The Guardian indicate that the FCTA has issued a "no-going-back" directive regarding the seizure of 4,794 properties over unpaid ground rents. Insiders reveal that this number has now exceeded 8,300 properties, signaling the administration's determination to enforce compliance with land regulations across the Federal Capital Territory.
