FCTA Revokes Over 1,000 Abuja Plots as High-Profile Defaulters Lose Allocations
In a sweeping enforcement action that has ignited nationwide debate, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has revoked 1,095 property titles across Abuja after their owners failed to settle statutory land charges within the 14-day grace period that expired on 25 November 2025. The move, approved by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, marks one of the largest mass revocations in the history of the capital city, cutting across political elites, top government agencies, corporations, and high-profile individuals.
The Department of Land Administration disclosed the details in a statement at the weekend, noting that the revocation exercise followed extensive notices published across newspapers, television stations, and online platforms. According to the statement, 835 of the revoked properties were linked to ground rent defaults — one of the most recurrent violations under Abuja’s land administration system. Another 260 properties were revoked for failure to pay land use conversion charges and Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) fees.
The publication included detailed breakdowns of file numbers, plot numbers, cadastral zones, outstanding payments, and the official dates of revocation. It emphasized that the affected owners had been repeatedly urged to comply with statutory requirements before the final enforcement. The FCTA said the decision aligns with Section 28 (5a & 5b) of the Land Use Act, which empowers the government to revoke property titles when grantees fail to meet the conditions attached to their Right of Occupancy.
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The list of affected individuals reads like a cross-section of Nigeria’s political and economic elite. Among them are former Chief of Army Staff Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, former First Lady Patience Jonathan, former Senate President David Mark, former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido, Senator Ali Ndume, former Osun Deputy Governor Senator Iyiola Omisore, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, former Petroleum Minister Alison-Madueke, and the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari. Several former governors — including Abdullahi Ganduje, Adeniyi Adebayo, Donald Duke, Aliyu Wamakko, Ayodele Fayose, Ibrahim Dankwambo, and Olagunsoye Oyinlola — also featured.
Top institutions were not spared. The Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Navy, Office of the National Security Adviser, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the governments of Kaduna, Oyo, and Borno States all had affected plots.
The revocation list also included major financial institutions and corporations, such as BUA International Limited, First Bank, Standard Trust Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Ecobank, UBA, Zenith Bank, Union Bank, and the Niger Delta Development Commission. Other organisations include the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
The action has sparked heated reactions across public forums. Supporters argue that the enforcement is long overdue and necessary to restore order, ensure compliance, and end the culture of impunity in Abuja’s land administration. Critics, however, accuse the minister of selective enforcement or political motivation, referencing previous controversies involving land allocation and demolition in the capital city.
Despite the uproar, the FCTA maintains that the exercise will continue, stressing that it is anchored in law rather than sentiment. The administration insists that land titles come with obligations, and defaulters — regardless of influence or status — must comply with the terms of their allocation or face revocation.
With the scale of the action and the prominence of those affected, the development has opened a fresh chapter in Abuja’s ongoing debates over land governance, transparency, and accountability.