FCTA Seals Access Bank, Total Station in Wuse Over 34-Year Ground Rent Debt

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed an Access Bank branch and a Total petrol station located in Wuse, Abuja, over the non-payment of ground rent spanning 34 years. This enforcement action is part of a sweeping clampdown on property owners who have defaulted on their statutory land obligations.

Documents reviewed by SK Blog reveal that the property in question is officially allocated to Rana Tahir Furniture Nigeria Limited, not Access Bank directly. A letter dated March 13, 2025, and signed by the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, confirmed the revocation of rights over Plot No. 2456 in Wuse I, Cadastral Zone A02. The letter cited the continued contravention of the terms and conditions of the Right of Occupancy due to the failure to pay annual ground rents for over three decades.

The FCTA noted that repeated notices and public warnings had been issued since 2023, urging allottees to settle outstanding liabilities. The recent closures are part of a broader enforcement campaign that saw the revocation of 4,794 land titles across key districts in Abuja, including Wuse, Maitama, Asokoro, and Garki. Authorities report that 8,375 property owners collectively owe around ₦6.97 billion in ground rent, with some debts dating back more than 40 years.

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike reiterated that the revocations were carried out under the provisions of Section 28(5) of the Land Use Act, which authorizes the government to reclaim land from titleholders who fail to fulfill the conditions tied to their occupancy.