The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced that 374 property owners in Abuja’s Federal Capital City (FCC) will be issued fresh Statutory Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O) and Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) following the approval of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for the regularization of land use violations.

 

The affected property owners, spread across 15 major streets and districts, were found to have converted their properties from residential to commercial purposes (or vice versa) without obtaining due approval, a clear breach of the conditions attached to their original land allocations.

 

According to a public notice issued by the FCTA, allottees guilty of the infractions must pay a penalty/violation fee of ₦5 million within 30 days, beginning Wednesday, September 10, 2025.

 

The notice emphasized that property owners who fail to comply risk further sanctions, including revocation of their land titles.

 

Affected locations include some of Abuja’s prime streets such as Gana Street and Usuma Street in Maitama, Yakubu Gowon Crescent in Asokoro, Aminu Kano Crescent and Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent in Wuse II, as well as several high-profile areas in Garki districts, including Ladoke Akintola Boulevard, Gimbiya Street, Onitsha Street, Ogbomosho Street, Lafia Close, Yola Street, Abriba Close, Danbatta Street, Ringim Close, and Ilorin Street.

 

In addition to imposing sanctions, the FCT Minister has also graciously approved the issuance of new title documents reflecting the updated land uses. The new documents, which include Statutory R-of-O and C-of-O, will be valid for a fresh tenure of 99 years—but only upon fulfillment of all stipulated conditions, including the penalty fee.

 

The FCTA directed property owners to visit the Department of Land Administration at No. 4 Peace Drive, Central Business District, Abuja, with their original title documents and valid means of identification to collect letters conveying the approval for land use changes.

 

However, the notice clarified that the exercise does not apply to properties whose titles have already been withdrawn or revoked for reasons such as non-development, non-payment of ground rent, or other serious violations.

 

This development follows the recent submission of reports by two ad-hoc committees inaugurated on August 8, 2025, tasked with reviewing widespread abuses of land use clauses across Abuja.

 

While receiving the reports last week, Minister Wike warned against the growing trend of arbitrary land use conversions.

 

“I’m aware that certain areas are designated for residential purposes, and certain areas for commercial purposes, but people believe they can do anything without approval. They change residential to commercial and commercial to residential at will. If you don’t sanction them, it will continue,” Wike said.

 

He stressed that the FCTA would not hesitate to revoke titles where property owners refuse to comply with regulations.

 

“We must apply the sanctions as required, and anybody who does not comply, we have no choice but to revoke the title. Once revoked, the government will be in a position to decide what to do with such properties,” the Minister added.

 

Abuja’s rapid urban expansion has seen several districts originally designated as residential being overtaken by commercial activities. Authorities say this unregulated trend poses significant urban planning challenges, increases pressure on infrastructure, and disrupts the city’s master plan.

 

Wike, since assuming office as FCT Minister, has made urban discipline, land administration reforms, and enforcement of planning laws a priority, insisting that Abuja must not be allowed to degenerate into a “lawless city.”

 

For many property owners, the ₦5 million penalty provides a path to regularization, offering them legitimacy and security of tenure for another century. However, the Minister’s tough stance signals that going forward, illegal conversions will attract stricter penalties, including outright revocations.

 

With Abuja continuing to grow as Nigeria’s political and commercial capital, the FCTA’s latest move underscores its determination to maintain control over land use patterns, safeguard urban order, and ensure fairness in property administration.