Wike Issues Final 14-Day Ultimatum to Abuja Property Owners Over Land-Use Violations

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has granted a final 14-day grace period to property owners in Asokoro, Maitama, Garki, and Wuse districts to settle a ₦5 million penalty for breaching approved land-use regulations.

The directive, announced in a statement on Sunday by Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, mandates affected property owners to comply between Tuesday, November 11, and November 25, 2025, or face enforcement actions by the FCT Administration.

According to Olayinka, the defaulters must pay the ₦5 million violation fee and other applicable charges related to land-use change and conversion within the stated period. Failure to do so will trigger enforcement measures.

This comes after Wike, on September 3, 2025, approved a ₦5 million fine for title holders who contravened the Land Use Act in the FCT, following recommendations from a ministerial committee investigating land-use abuses. He also approved a 7.5 per cent fee on the assessed capital value of any property converted without official approval, payable within 30 days.

Earlier, the FCT Administration had published a list of 374 defaulting property owners and urged them to pay the fines within the stipulated timeframe.

However, Wike has now extended a “final grace period of 14 days” to allow affected allottees to regularise their land documents.

The affected properties are located on Gana and Usuma Streets in Maitama; Yakubu Gowon Crescent in Asokoro; Aminu Kano and Adetokunbo Ademola Crescents in Wuse II; Ladoke Akintola Boulevard, Gimbiya and Onitsha Streets in Garki II; as well as Ogbomosho Street, Lafia Close, Yola Street, Abriba Close, Danbatta Street, Ringim Close, and Ilorin Street in Garki I.

Property owners who comply within the grace period will receive new title documents reflecting the updated land use and a renewed 99-year tenure.

“The Minister has approved the issuance of new Statutory Right of Occupancy and Certificates of Occupancy to compliant property owners,” the statement added, noting that the offer excludes lands previously revoked or withdrawn due to non-development, unpaid ground rent, or similar violations.