FCT Minister Wike Grants 14-Day Grace for Abuja Land Use Defaulters to Pay ₦5m Penalty or Face Revocation of Titles

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, today, Sunday, November 9, 2025, approved a final 14-day grace period for property owners in key Abuja districts who have violated the conditions of their land titles by changing the use of their properties without due authorization.

The Minister’s decision, communicated through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, follows the expiration of an initial 30-day window given to property owners to regularize their documentation.

The final 14-day grace period begins on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. It targets allottees and title holders of properties in major districts, including Asokoro, Maitama, Garki, and Wuse, where the illegal conversion of residential properties to commercial or mixed-use has been rampant.

₦5 Million Fine and Threat of Revocation

The FCT Administration had earlier sanctioned a penalty regime for the infractions. To benefit from this final grace period, affected property owners must pay a mandatory violation fee of ₦5 million in addition to the statutory fees for the land use change/conversion, which includes a 7.5% charge on the assessed capital value of the illegally converted properties.

The Minister stressed that the measure is essential for restoring sanity to the FCT’s master plan and generating necessary revenue for infrastructure development, a key priority of his administration.

The statement issued a stern warning that the grace period is absolute and final. “Failure to comply within the stated 14 calendar days grace period will result in immediate and necessary enforcement actions by the FCT Administration,” the statement read. This action is understood to include the sealing of non-compliant properties and the ultimate revocation and withdrawal of the land titles, a step the FCT Minister has repeatedly stated he is prepared to take.

This final ultimatum underscores Minister Wike’s firm commitment to enforcing land use regulations and ensuring that those who have contravened the provisions of the Land Use Act face consequences or comply swiftly.