(DDM) – The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has publicly named major companies and federal agencies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), BUA International Limited, Ibeto Cement Company Limited, and First Bank of Nigeria, among defaulters of statutory land charges.
DDM gathered that the announcement, published on Monday, comes ahead of enforcement actions set to commence on 1,095 property titles recently revoked due to non-payment of ground rent, certificate of occupancy fees, land use conversion charges, and penalties.
The affected properties are located in high-profile districts such as Asokoro, Maitama, Garki, and Wuse, highlighting that even prominent institutions have failed to meet their legal obligations.
According to the FCTA statement issued last Friday, owners of these properties repeatedly ignored notices demanding settlement of outstanding land charges, prompting the revocations.
Of the 1,095 revoked titles, 835 were linked to unpaid ground rent, while 260 pertained to violations related to land use conversions and other regulatory infractions.
The full list of defaulters includes not only financial institutions like CBN, FBN, African International Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Union Bank, and Zenith Bank, but also corporations and private companies such as BUA International Limited, Ibeto Cement Company Limited, Sofitel Abuja International Hotels, and Shell Trustees Nigeria Limited.
Additionally, several federal government agencies and statutory bodies appear on the list, including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Nigerian Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development Bank, Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Housing Authority, Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Company, Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund, Nigeria Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Other notable defaulters comprise educational institutions, healthcare investors, real estate developers, and media organisations, reflecting widespread non-compliance across both public and private sectors.
Among the infractions highlighted by the FCTA are failures to pay ground rent, penalties for land use conversion violations, and overdue fees for certificates of occupancy (C-of-O), all of which are legally required for property ownership in the Federal Capital Territory.
The FCTA has warned that enforcement measures will include legal action and potential seizure of assets if payments are not made, signalling a stricter stance toward compliance with land administration laws.
Observers note that the inclusion of high-profile entities such as CBN, BUA, and FBN underscores the challenges faced by the FCTA in ensuring that even influential organizations adhere to statutory land obligations.
The revocation and enforcement process aims to enforce accountability, curb neglect of civic duties, and encourage timely compliance with land administration policies within Abuja’s urban landscape.
This move is expected to generate significant attention in both corporate and government circles, with many defaulters now under pressure to regularize their land payments to avoid further sanctions.
The FCTA’s public notice serves as a stark reminder that no entity, regardless of status or influence, is exempt from regulatory requirements in Nigeria’s capital territory.