Tinubu Grants 14-Day Grace Period for FCT Ground Rent Defaulters Amid Property Revocations

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has stepped in to offer a temporary reprieve to property owners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) affected by a sweeping enforcement action over long-standing ground rent defaults.

The intervention grants a 14-day grace period for defaulters to settle their outstanding payments, including applicable penalties.

Earlier this week, the FCT Administration began enforcing revocation orders on 4,794 properties across Abuja due to non-payment of ground rent, with some delinquencies stretching back as far as 43 years.

The enforcement affected properties owned by individuals, corporate entities, and even government institutions.

Speaking to journalists on Monday, Director of the FCT Department of Land Administration, Mr. Chijioke Nwankwoeze, explained that the President’s intervention offers defaulters a final opportunity to regularize their status.

He outlined the penalty structure, stating that defaulters in the Central Area will pay a penalty of ₦5 million in addition to the owed ground rent, those in high-value districts such as Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, and Guzape will pay ₦3 million while property owners in Wuse I, Garki I, and Garki II will incur a ₦2 million penalty.

In addition, the grace period covers those who acquired properties through secondary transactions but have yet to obtain the legally required Minister’s Consent or register their Deeds of Assignment.

Such individuals, according to him, now have 14 days to formalize their ownership at the FCT Department of Land Administration.

Nwankwoeze further disclosed that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has extended the same two-week grace period to all property holders with unpaid Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) or Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills.

Failure to comply within the deadline could lead to revocation of property titles, he said.

The Director emphasized the importance of timely compliance, noting that the funds collected through land charges are vital to ongoing infrastructure development and public services in the capital.

“Going forward, the Minister has advised property owners in the FCT to ensure that they pay all necessary bills and charges on their properties as at and when due, so as to enable the government to continue to carry out necessary developmental projects for the benefit of the people,” he added.