The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday sealed off key properties in Abuja, including an Access Bank branch, a Total petrol station, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service () office, over failure to pay ground rent for more than three decades.
According to the FCTA, the affected properties, located in Zone 6, Wuse District, were shut down due to non-payment of ground rent spanning 34 years — a violation of the terms of their land allocations.
In an official letter dated March 13, 2025, signed by Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory revoked the rights and interests over Plot No. 2456, Wuse I, Cadastral Zone A02, citing persistent default.
“The revocation is in view of your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for Thirty-Four (34) years,” the letter read.
Though the Access Bank branch operates from the property, official records indicate it is owned by Rana Tahir Furniture Nigeria Limited, not the bank directly.
The sealing of the FIRS office further underscored the FCTA’s commitment to clamp down on defaulters, regardless of the status or prominence of the occupants.
Officials from the FCTA confirmed that the enforcement was part of a broader campaign targeting thousands of properties whose owners have defaulted despite repeated reminders and public notices issued since 2023.
“The action is to serve as a deterrent. We have warned all allottees to settle their obligations or face revocation and enforcement,” a senior FCTA official stated.
The move has raised eyebrows given the profile of the affected institutions, but FCTA maintains that the law applies equally to all.
