Abuja Property Owners Face N5m Sanction

….7.5% Value Charge for Land Use Breach

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has rolled out strict penalties for property owners flouting Abuja’s Land Use Act.

Under the new directive, allottees and title holders who breach land use regulations will face a fine of ₦5 million, payable within 30 days. In addition, any property converted without approval from the FCT Administration will attract an extra charge of 7.5 percent of its assessed capital value.

Wike announced the measures on Tuesday while receiving the report of the Land Use and Purpose Clause Committee, set up to probe widespread abuse of land allocations in the capital city. He explained that the sanctions were necessary both to discourage illegal land conversions and to generate revenue for ongoing projects.

“I won’t allow anyone to escape accountability. If you default, we will revoke your title, sell it, and still recover funds for the city,” Wike warned.

The minister expressed concern over the increasing trend of converting residential properties into commercial use and vice versa without authorization, vowing that defaulters would face severe consequences.

Presenting the committee’s findings, Chairman Mukhtar Galadima—who also serves as the Director of Development Control—revealed that several properties along Ademola Adetokunbo Street, Aminu Kano Crescent, Yakubu Gowon Street, and Gana Street had been illegally converted. He said the total assessed value of such properties stood at ₦1.037 trillion.

Galadima recommended a wide range of sanctions, including sealing off affected properties, demolishing unlawful structures, revoking titles, and withdrawing allocations from uncooperative owners. He further noted that individuals engaged in illegal extensions, mergers, or subdivisions would pay an additional two percent of their property’s assessed value.

Wike stressed that strict enforcement of these penalties was essential to restore order in Abuja’s land administration and to ensure compliance with land use laws.