The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed off a Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office located in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, over the alleged 25-year non-payment of ground rent.
This was confirmed by Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the FCT Minister, in a post shared via his X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, May 26, 2025.
Widespread Enforcement Hits Multiple Properties
The closure of the FIRS facility is part of the FCTA’s ongoing enforcement operation targeting defaulting property owners with unpaid ground rents. The agency announced that enforcement would begin on May 26, 2025, affecting 4,794 properties with debts ranging from 10 to 43 years.
In addition to the FIRS office, the FCTA also:
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Sealed a property occupied by Access Bank in Wuse Market over 34 years of unpaid rent;
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Shut down a Total petrol station in Wuse Zone 3 as part of the same operation.
These actions are part of a larger crackdown on high-profile defaulters in key areas such as:
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Central Area
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Garki I & II
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Wuse I & II
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Asokoro
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Maitama
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Guzape
Revoked Properties Now Under FCTA Ownership
At a joint press briefing, key officials — including Lere Olayinka, Chijioke Nwankwoeze (Director of Land Administration), and Mukhtar Galadima (Director of Development Control) — clarified that revoked properties now legally belong to the FCTA, regardless of current occupants.
“We are now exercising full legal rights over these properties,” said Director Chijioke Nwankwoeze, emphasizing the administration’s resolve to enforce the law.
He also assured the public that no court orders are currently preventing the FCTA from proceeding with the enforcement.
21-Day Grace Period for Minor Defaulters
The FCTA also disclosed that property owners owing between one and ten years of ground rent were granted a 21-day grace period to settle their debts. A compliance audit is underway, and further enforcement actions are expected after the deadline.
