The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has revoked 4,794 land titles due to non-payment of Ground Rent for over 40 years.
This decision affects property owners in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape districts.
According to Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, and Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Lands, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), the revocation is a result of the property owners’ failure to comply with the payment of Ground Rent, despite numerous warnings and publications in national newspapers and broadcast media since 2023.
“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,” Olayinka said.
The FCTA stressed that payment of Ground Rent is a statutory requirement, clearly stipulated in the terms and conditions of grant of Right of Occupancy.
“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,” Nwankwoeze added.
A total of 8,375 property owners owe N6,967,980,119 in Ground Rent, with 4,794 land titles in default of payment for 10 years and above. The affected districts include Central Area District, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape.
“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),” Olayinka said. “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,” Nwankwoeze explained. “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“Consequently, the titles of the properties in default of payment of Ground Rent for 10 years and above have been revoked forthwith,” Olayinka said. “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 titles will be revoked.”
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