Over 3,300 house owners in Abuja, including embassies, state liaison offices, and major government agencies, may soon lose their properties for failing to pay ground rents.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has issued a final 14-day notice demanding payment, warning that defaulters risk revocation of their land titles.
The list, published on June 2, includes debts owed between 2014 and 2024. The total has climbed past ₦24 billion. Agencies like the Nigerian Navy, the Federal High Court, and the Department of Petroleum Resources are among the top offenders. Some foreign missions, including those of Canada, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Mauritania, also appear on the list, though many owe only small sums.
FCTA enforcement teams began sealing defaulting properties on May 26, targeting over 4,700 locations. Among the sealed buildings were the PDP headquarters, Access Bank, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service office in Wuse.
After the crackdown, the President stepped in, allowing a two-week grace period. During this time, the FCTA confirmed that some defaulters began settling their debts. Officials say unpaid properties could attract penalties of ₦2 to ₦3 million, depending on their location.
Several embassies have denied wrongdoing. Russia’s embassy said it had no outstanding payments. Germany’s mission claimed it had not received any formal notice. Turkiye’s embassy also questioned the listing, suggesting a possible administrative error. Ghana’s High Commission said it would consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Despite the disputes, the FCTA remains firm. If payments aren’t made by June 16, revocations will begin marking one of the largest enforcement drives in Abuja’s property history
