The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has issued a strong warning to owners of hotels, event centres, and other public facilities in Abuja, cautioning that properties used to host gatherings linked to illegal organisations risk having their land titles revoked.
The warning was contained in a statement released on Friday by the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.
According to the FCTA, land allocations within the Federal Capital Territory are strictly reserved for lawful and approved activities. The administration added that it would intensify monitoring of hotels, event centres, and similar facilities across Abuja as part of ongoing security and regulatory enforcement.
FCTA Links Directive To Security Concerns
The administration explained that the directive is part of broader efforts to strengthen security in the nation’s capital and support the operations of security agencies.
It warned that any facility found to have hosted meetings or gatherings associated with illegal organisations would face serious sanctions, including the possible revocation of title documents attached to such properties.
“This is aimed at ensuring that they are not used by illegal organisations for gatherings capable of disrupting the peace of the nation’s capital,” the statement read.
Due Diligence Required From Facility Owners
The FCTA advised hotel owners and event centre operators to conduct proper due diligence before approving bookings, particularly for political, social, or organisational events.
It specifically directed operators to recognise only political party leadership structures officially registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when hosting political activities.
The administration also instructed facility owners to maintain accurate records of all transactions and engagements involving organisations using their premises.
According to the statement, compliance with these directives would enable security agencies to better monitor activities that could threaten public order or national security.
“Owners of these facilities are, therefore, urged to take cognisance of the legality of organisations seeking to use their facilities and the purpose before letting them out,” the statement added.
Security Tightening in Abuja
The latest directive comes amid heightened security awareness across Nigeria, with increased scrutiny of public gatherings within the Federal Capital Territory, which hosts key government institutions, diplomatic missions, and national political activities.
In recent months, the FCTA has intensified enforcement actions targeting illegal land use, unapproved structures, and other regulatory infractions across Abuja.
In 2023, authorities had also warned former owners of 165 revoked properties in the FCT against attempting to return to or continue development on recovered plots, particularly in areas such as Maitama, Abuja.
The government maintains that strict enforcement of land use and security regulations is necessary to preserve order and protect the integrity of the capital city.
