PDP, CBN, INEC, NNPC lose Abuja land titles over rent default (Full list)

Details have emerged about the owners of some of the 4,794 land titles recently revoked by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, due to non-payment of ground rent.

The minister’s office confirmed on Monday that some of the revoked land titles had accumulated unpaid rent for over 40 years.

According to Premium Times, the affected title holders include major institutions such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Others on the list are CONOIL Plc, the Borno State Government, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the National Universities Commission (NUC), MRS Investment Company Limited (owners of MRS Petrol Stations), and the Kaduna State Government.

Additionally, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, the University of Calabar, the Nigerian Postal Service, and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) were also affected.

A source familiar with the matter but not authorized to speak publicly disclosed that many of these organizations have defaulted on their payments for over 20 years.

The FCT Minister’s office officially announced the revocation of 4,794 land titles on Monday, affecting multiple districts, including the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape. These areas reportedly have 8,375 property owners who have failed to pay ground rent for up to 43 years.

The announcement was made during a press briefing in Abuja by the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, alongside the FCTA Director of Lands, Chijioke Nwankwoeze.

Olayinka stated that the FCTA had repeatedly attempted to recover the outstanding payments through newspaper publications and broadcast media announcements since 2023. However, many property owners failed to respond or clear their debts.

He further explained that land titles in default for more than 10 years have been revoked immediately, as they violate the terms and conditions of the Land Use Act. Property owners who have defaulted for one to 10 years have been granted a 21-day window to settle their debts before facing revocation.

The total outstanding ground rent owed by the 8,375 affected property owners is estimated at N6.97 billion.