The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has intensified its enforcement of ground rent compliance by sealing several high-profile properties, including the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.
According to officials, the FIRS facility had failed to settle its statutory ground rent obligations for over 25 years, prompting the drastic action.
In a similar move, the FCTA enforcement team also closed a branch of Access Bank and a Total filling station, both located in the Wuse District. Authorities disclosed that the property housing the bank had not seen any ground rent payments for more than three decades—specifically, 34 years.
This clampdown comes in the wake of a major revenue recovery campaign initiated by the FCTA. In March, the administration revoked the titles of 4,794 properties whose owners had defaulted on ground rent payments for between 10 and 43 years.
The FCTA also issued a 21-day ultimatum to thousands of other property holders with arrears of less than 10 years, warning them to clear their debts or risk similar penalties. As of last Friday, the administration was still reviewing its financial records to identify which defaulters had complied within the grace period.
Officials indicated that repossession of the 4,794 revoked properties would begin in earnest this week.
Regarding the sealed bank facility, it was confirmed to be originally allocated to a private firm, Rana Tahir Furniture Nigeria Limited. It remains unclear whether Access Bank acquired the property from the original allottee or is occupying it on a lease agreement.
