The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday sealed the premises of an Access Bank branch and a Total petrol station located in Zone 6, Wuse, Abuja, over non-payment of ground rent spanning 34 years.
According to official documents, the property housing Access Bank is allocated to Rana Tahir Furniture Nigeria Limited and not directly to the bank itself.
A letter dated March 13, 2025, and signed by FCTA’s Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, revealed that the FCT Minister exercised powers under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978 to revoke rights to the land.
“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 letter stated.
It added that the decision was due to “your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for Thirty-Four (34) years.”
In a similar move, the FCTA also sealed the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office in Abuja over the same ground rent violations.
Officials say these actions are part of an ongoing enforcement campaign targeting property owners who have defaulted on statutory payments across the FCT.
Several notices and public warnings had reportedly been issued since 2023, urging allottees to settle outstanding ground rent liabilities.
