In a sweeping move that stunned residents and rattled big-name institutions, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday sealed off an Access Bank branch, a Total petrol station, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office in Abuja over the failure to pay ground rent—some spanning an unbelievable 34 years.
The dramatic closures happened in the Wuse Zone 6 area of Abuja as part of an ongoing clampdown on property owners defaulting on their statutory payments to the government.
According to official documents obtained by reporters, the property currently housing Access Bank was not even allocated to the bank directly but to Rana Tahir Furniture Nigeria Limited—raising fresh questions about subletting and regulatory compliance in the nation’s capital.
In a strongly-worded letter dated March 13, 2025, and signed by the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, the FCT Minister revoked the land rights tied to the property. The letter stated:
“The Minister of Federal Capital Territory has, in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, revoked your rights, interests and privileges over Plot No. 2456 within Wuse I, Cadastral Zone A02, Abuja.”
The ministry cited “consistent and deliberate refusal” to settle ground rent bills dating back three decades and four years—a timeline that has left many observers stunned.
In a similar enforcement, the FCTA sealed a Total petrol station located within the same axis and also locked the gates of the FIRS office, underscoring the seriousness of the campaign.
This action is not without warning. Officials revealed that several notices and public announcements had been issued since early 2023, urging landowners and corporate tenants to settle their rent obligations or risk revocation.
“This is not a witch-hunt. This is simply the law taking its course,” one FCTA official said. “We’ve begged and reminded them for over a year. This is the consequence of impunity.”
The FCT Minister has warned that more prominent properties—residential and commercial—are on the radar. As it stands, what began as a routine land revenue recovery effort has now spiraled into a public spectacle of high-stakes property enforcement.
With multi-billion-naira corporations now feeling the heat, the question remains—who’s next?
This is a developing story. More updates will follow as investigations continue and responses from the affected organizations emerge.
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