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In a sweeping enforcement move, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed an Access Bank branch and a Total petrol station in Wuse, Abuja.
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The action was taken over unpaid ground rent spanning 34 years, with officials citing repeated default and disregard for prior warnings.
In an execution of land use regulations, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed an Access Bank branch and a Total petrol station in Abuja’s Wuse district—citing an alarming 34-year default in ground rent payment.
The enforcement operation, part of a wider crackdown on land debtors, followed the revocation of rights to Plot No. 2456, originally allocated to Rana Tahir Furniture Nigeria Limited. Although Access Bank and Total occupy the location, official records identify Rana Tahir as the allottee.
The FCTA maintains that the tenants are operating on land held in breach of occupancy terms.
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Legal Grounds for Revocation
A letter dated March 13, 2025, signed by Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration, confirmed the Minister’s decision to revoke ownership:
“The Minister of Federal Capital Territory has in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, revoked your rights, interests and privileges over Plot No. 2456 within Wuse I, Cadastral Zone A02, Abuja.”
The letter cited persistent non-payment of ground rents for over three decades:
“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.”
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The Access Bank and Total facilities are among thousands affected in the ongoing FCTA clean-up.
The administration recently revoked 4,794 land titles across prime Abuja districts—Wuse, Maitama, Asokoro, and Garki—due to unpaid rents totaling ₦6.97 billion. According to FCTA officials, over 8,000 titleholders are currently in default, with some debts dating back more than 40 years.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, defending the operation, invoked Section 28(5) of the Land Use Act to justify the crackdown:
“The revocations were executed in accordance with the law, targeting property owners who have failed to meet the terms of their occupancy rights.”
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