President Tinubu Offers Lifeline To FCT Property Owners With 14-Day Grace Period For Ground Rent Payments.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has intervened to grant property owners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) a 14-day grace period to settle outstanding ground rent debts and avoid the revocation of their property titles. The announcement follows the enforcement action initiated on 26 May 2025 against 4,794 properties in the FCT, revoked for non-payment of ground rent spanning 10 to 43 years.
Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration for the FCT, revealed that the affected properties include those owned by government institutions, corporate organisations, and individuals, underscoring the FCT Administration’s resolve to enforce compliance without bias. However, President Tinubu’s intervention offers defaulters a final opportunity to regularise their status.
Under the new directive, property owners in the Central Area face a penalty of N5 million in addition to their outstanding ground rent. Those in Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, and Guzape Districts will pay a N3 million penalty, while defaulters in Wuse I, Garki I, and Garki II are required to pay N2 million, alongside their ground rent arrears. The 14-day window, effective from 26 May 2025, also applies to property owners who purchased properties but have yet to register their interests by obtaining the mandatory Minister’s Consent and registering their Deeds of Assignment at the FCT Department of Land Administration.
FCT Minister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has further extended the grace period to all property holders in the FCT, urging them to clear their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) or Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills within the same two-week timeframe to avoid title revocation. The Minister emphasised the importance of timely payments, noting that revenue from ground rents and related charges enables the government to fund critical developmental projects for the benefit of residents.
“This is a golden opportunity for property owners to regularise their status and avoid losing their investments,” said a spokesperson for the FCT Administration. “The government is committed to creating a fair and functional system, but compliance is essential.”
The enforcement action and subsequent grace period have sparked discussions on social media, with some users praising the government’s firm stance on revenue collection, while others urged for more lenient penalties to ease the burden on defaulters. The move is seen as part of broader efforts to enhance accountability and ensure sustainable urban development in Nigeria’s capital.
Property owners are advised to act swiftly to settle their dues at the FCT Department of Land Administration before the 9 June 2025 deadline. Minister Wike has also called on residents to make prompt payments of all property-related bills in the future to support ongoing infrastructure and development initiatives in the FCT.
“This intervention by President Tinubu demonstrates a balance between enforcement and compassion,” said a local property consultant. “It’s now up to defaulters to seize this chance and protect their assets.”
