FCTA seals FIRS, Total filling station, Access Bank over ‘non-payment of ground rent’

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed multiple buildings in Abuja over an alleged failure to pay ground rent.

Some of the affected businesses include Access Bank in Wuse Market and a Total petrol station in the same area.

In a letter on Access Bank, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, director of land administration at the FCTA, cited continued default in ground rent payment as reason for the revocation.

“The revocation is in view of your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for Thirty Four (34) years,” the letter dated March 13, 2025 reads.

The letter was addressed to Rana Tahir Furniture Nigeria Limited, and not Access Bank directly, but TheCable understands that the bank has been occupying the property.

Nwankwoeze added that several notices and publications had been made since 2023, warning all allottees to clear outstanding bills.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office in Zone 5 was also closed for the same reasons.

The FIRS is said to owe ground rent of 25 years.

The shutdowns follow a major enforcement drive by the FCTA, which recently cancelled 4,794 land titles in key Abuja districts such as Wuse, Maitama, Asokoro, and Garki due to long-standing unpaid ground rents.

FCTA officials say 8,375 property owners collectively owe about N6.97 billion, with some debts dating back more than 40 years.

In March, the FCTA revoked the land title of the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) located in the central business district, over an alleged failure to pay ground rents of over 19 years.

At the time the 4,794 land titles were revoked, the FCTA said its owners could appeal for reinstatement.