Nyesom Wike
Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has given property owners who violated land use regulations in parts of Abuja, the nation’s capital, a final 14-day grace period to pay a N5 million violation fee.
Early in September, the FCT minister fined some property owners in Abuja for converting their buildings to other uses without approval.
Most of the properties were converted from residential to commercial use.
In a notice published in national dailies, the property owners were given 30 days to regularise their titles.
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However, according to a statement issued on Sunday by Lere Olayinka, senior special assistant to Wike on public communications and social media, the 30-day window earlier granted by the FCTA in September for the payment of the penalty had expired.
He added that the minister has approved another 14-day grace period, beginning Tuesday, November 11, for defaulters to pay the N5 million fee and other applicable charges for land use change and conversion.
“The Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), His Excellency, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, has magnanimously granted a final grace period of 14 calendar days from Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for all affected allottees/holders of properties along the said streets/locations to comply with the terms and conditions of the approval for land use change/conversion,” the statement reads.
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“Failure to comply within the stated 14-calendar-day grace period will result in enforcement actions by the FCT Administration.”
The affected areas include Gana Street and Usuma Street in Maitama, Yakubu Gowon Crescent in Asokoro, Aminu Kano Crescent and Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent in Wuse II, Ladoke Akintola Boulevard, Gimbiya Street, and Onitsha Street in Garki II, as well as Ogbomosho Street, Lafia Close, Yola Street, Abriba Close, Danbatta Street, Ringim Close, and Ilorin Street in Garki I.
Olayinka said property owners who regularise their land use will be eligible for new title documents.
“The Honourable Minister has, in addition, graciously approved the issuance of new title documents (Statutory Right of Occupancy and Certificate of Occupancy) in favour of the affected property owners, reflecting the updated land use of the properties for a fresh term of 99 years, upon fulfilling all necessary conditions,” he added.
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He clarified that the current exercise does not cover titles that were earlier revoked for non-development, non-payment of ground rent, or other infractions.
Some of the affected property owners include Abdullahi Ganduje, former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Olagunsoye Oyinlola, ex-governor of Osun; Atanda Fatai-Williams and Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, former justices of the supreme court; and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
