FCTA to crack down on property fee defaulters from November 26

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has announced that it will commence enforcement actions next week against defaulters of ground rent, land use change, and conversion fees, as well as right of occupancy and certificate of occupancy bills.

Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, disclosed this in a statement released on Thursday.

Defaulters are property owners in the FCT who have not paid ground rent, land use change or conversion fees, R-of-O or C-of-O bills, or failed to register property transfers by obtaining Minister’s consent and registering their deeds of assignment.

Olayinka recalled that on May 26, 2025, following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, Wike granted defaulters a 14-day grace period to pay outstanding ground rent, including associated penalties.

He explained that further publications were made on September 8, 9, and 10, 2025, in national dailies and online platforms, on the revised Land Use/Purpose Clause of properties in the FCT.

These notices, Olayinka said, gave 30 days for payment of penalty and violation fees of ₦5 million and other applicable charges for land use change/conversion.

“Another public notice was published in national newspapers as well as online platforms, and aired on television and radio stations, granting defaulters of the land use/purpose clause of properties in Asokoro, Maitama, Garki and Wuse districts in the Federal Capital City (FCC), a final grace period of 14 days to comply with the terms and conditions of the approval for land use change and conversion 

Consequently, the FCTA will from Wednesday, November 26, 2025, commence enforcement actions on defaulters of Ground Rent payment and Land Use Change/Conversion fee as well as Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) and Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills,” he added.

The aide stressed that the action will also include individuals who purchased properties but have yet to register their interests by obtaining the mandatory Minister’s consent and registering their deeds of assignment.