Wike Slams ₦5m Penalty on Abuja Property Owners Over Illegal Conversions
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved a ₦5 million fine for property owners who altered the approved use of their buildings without securing authorisation.
In a notice issued by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday, the affected owners were given 30 days to regularise their titles or face stiffer penalties.
According to the publication, several properties in prime districts including Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, and Garki had been illegally converted from residential to commercial purposes.
“This is to notify the general public, particularly allottees and title holders of properties, that the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, His Excellency, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, has approved a reviewed land use/purpose clause of properties on the underlisted streets/locations of the Federal Capital City,” the notice stated.
The directive requires affected owners to pay the ₦5 million penalty at the Department of Land Administration, Central Business District, Abuja, where they will also receive letters of approval for the land-use change.
Wike further endorsed the issuance of fresh statutory rights of occupancy and certificates of occupancy with a new 99-year term, once full compliance is achieved.
The FCTA, however, clarified that the regularisation does not apply to properties whose titles were previously revoked due to non-development, default in ground rent payment, or other violations.
Prominent names on the list of affected property owners include former APC national chairman Abdullahi Ganduje; ex-Osun State governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Supreme Court Justices Atanda Fatai-Williams and Aloma Mariam Mukhtar; as well as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
