The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed off a Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office in Abuja due to alleged non-payment of ground rent for 25 years, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Media, Lere Olayinka, confirmed on Monday via his X (formerly Twitter) handle.
The affected FIRS office is located in Wuse Zone 5 and was reportedly shut down as part of the FCTA’s ongoing enforcement operation targeting properties with unpaid ground rent.
Alongside the FIRS office, the FCTA also sealed a property occupied by Access Bank in Wuse Market, which reportedly owes ground rent for 34 years.
Additionally, a Total petrol station in Wuse Zone 3 was shut down during the enforcement exercise.
The action follows the FCTA’s announcement last Friday that it would begin enforcement from May 26, 2025, targeting 4,794 properties recently revoked due to unpaid ground rent spanning 10 to 43 years.
This revocation covers properties in several key districts, including the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape.
Officials at a joint press briefing, including Lere Olayinka, Director of Land Administration Chijioke Nwankwoeze, and Director of Development Control Mukhtar Galadima, explained that ownership of the revoked properties has reverted to the FCTA.
The administration is now exercising full rights over the properties according to the law, regardless of current occupants.
Addressing concerns about legal challenges, Chijioke Nwankwoeze confirmed that no court orders currently prevent the FCTA from carrying out the revocations, assuring that the enforcement is fully lawful.
He also noted that a compliance audit is underway for property owners given a 21-day grace period to clear outstanding ground rents between one and ten years, with further action to follow after the audit.
