The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has granted a final 14-day grace period to property owners in Abuja who violated land use regulations, directing them to pay a N5 million penalty or face enforcement action.
In September, the FCT Administration had fined several property owners for illegally converting their buildings—mostly from residential to commercial use—without official approval. They were initially given 30 days to regularise their property titles.
However, in a statement on Sunday, Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, said the initial grace period had expired. He added that the minister has now extended a final 14-day window, beginning Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for affected owners to pay the N5 million violation fee and other applicable charges related to land use conversion.
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“The Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), His Excellency, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, has magnanimously granted a final grace period of 14 calendar days from Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for all affected allottees and holders of properties along the said streets and locations to comply with the terms and conditions of land use change or conversion approval,” the statement read.
It further warned that failure to comply within the stipulated period would attract enforcement measures by the FCT Administration.
The affected areas include Gana Street and Usuma Street in Maitama; Yakubu Gowon Crescent in Asokoro; Aminu Kano and Adetokunbo Ademola Crescents in Wuse II; Ladoke Akintola Boulevard, Gimbiya Street, and Onitsha Street in Garki II; as well as Ogbomosho Street, Lafia Close, Yola Street, Abriba Close, Danbatta Street, Ringim Close, and Ilorin Street in Garki I.
Olayinka also noted that compliant property owners would be eligible for new title documents reflecting the updated land use for a renewed 99-year term.
“The Honourable Minister has graciously approved the issuance of new title documents—Statutory Right of Occupancy and Certificate of Occupancy—in favour of compliant property owners upon fulfilling all necessary conditions,” he said.
He clarified that the current exercise does not apply to properties whose titles had previously been revoked for reasons such as non-development, non-payment of ground rent, or other violations.
Prominent individuals and institutions reportedly affected by the directive include former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje; former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Supreme Court Justices Atanda Fatai-Williams and Aloma Mariam Mukhtar; and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
