The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, has issued a final 14-day grace period beginning Tuesday, November 11th, 2025, for property owners in Abuja’s upscale districts including Asokoro, Maitama, Garki, and Wuse who violated land use regulations to regularize their titles and pay a penalty fee of N5 million for land use violations. This directive follows previous notices that targeted owners who, without official approval, converted the land use of their properties, mostly from residential to commercial, in contravention of the terms of their Right of Occupancy grants.
A statement released by Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, emphasized that this grace period marks the final opportunity for affected property holders to comply with the conditions necessary to avoid enforcement actions by the FCT Administration. “The Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), His Excellency, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, has magnanimously granted a final grace period of 14 calendar days from Tuesday, November 11th, 2025, for all affected allottees/holders of properties along the said streets/locations to comply with the terms and conditions of the approval for land use change/conversion,” the statement read.
Property owners who settle the violation fees and meet all regulatory requirements will be eligible for the issuance of fresh title documents, including Statutory Rights of Occupancy and Certificates of Occupancy, reflecting the updated land use of their properties with a new 99-year term. However, the exercise excludes titles previously revoked for non-development, non-payment of ground rent, or other infractions.
Among the individuals impacted by this policy are prominent Nigerians such as Abdullahi Ganduje, former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Olagunsoye Oyinlola, ex-governor of Osun State; former Supreme Court Justices Atanda Fatai-Williams and Aloma Mariam Mukhtar; as well as corporate entities like the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
This initiative forms part of Wike’s broader land administration reforms aimed at curbing land speculation and illegal conversions, ensuring efficient land use within the FCT.
Wike stated, “Anyone who cannot develop a plot in two years is a speculator. Land in Abuja is not for decoration.” He underscored the necessity of the 21-day payment deadline for acceptance and documentation, describing it as “reasonable and necessary” to improve government revenue and operational efficiency.
Failure to comply within the stipulated 14 days will result in enforcement actions by the FCT Administration, including possible revocation of titles and seizure of properties. The strict enforcement under Wike’s leadership has already led to the seizure of thousands of properties over unpaid ground rents and violations, highlighting a firm stance on land regulation and development in the Federal Capital Territory.
This enforcement drive has contributed to a significant rise in annual land-related revenues in the FCT, surpassing ₦1 trillion for the first time in the territory’s history, according to officials from the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) and the Department of Land Administration.
