The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday sealed the office of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in Wuse Zone 5 over a shocking 25-year backlog in ground rent payments. The move, which has taken both government circles and the general public by storm, is part of a sweeping crackdown targeting thousands of property owners defaulting on ground rent dues across Abuja.
This enforcement action, spearheaded by the FCTA Enforcement Team, also affected other major establishments including a branch of Access Bank, in what authorities describe as the beginning of a massive recovery operation aimed at reclaiming over N6.97 billion owed by thousands of titleholders in Nigeria’s capital city.
The sealing of the FIRS office, a federal agency tasked with enforcing tax compliance nationwide has become the centerpiece of the current enforcement wave. According to Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, the FIRS had failed to settle its ground rent for a quarter of a century, a violation under Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act. Many Nigerians have expressed disbelief on social media, with trending reactions questioning how the country’s main tax collector could default for so long without consequence.
This unprecedented action follows the FCTA’s revocation of land titles for 4,794 properties whose owners failed to pay rent over periods ranging from 10 to 43 years. These properties are located in Abuja’s most valuable districts including Central Area, Garki, Wuse, Maitama, Asokoro, and Guzape, areas where land value is soaring. Despite multiple public notices issued since 2023 and a 21-day grace period, most defaulters failed to comply, prompting the administration to act decisively.
On Friday, top FCTA officials including Olayinka, Director of Land Administration Chijioke Nwankwoeze, and Development Control Director Mukhtar Galadima addressed the press to affirm that these revocations were final. They stated clearly that the ownership of affected properties now rests solely with the FCTA, setting the stage for Monday’s enforcement that stunned Abuja residents.
The closure of the FIRS office and Access Bank branch has since triggered viral conversations on X (formerly Twitter), with many users drawing attention to the irony of a revenue agency being penalized for financial non-compliance. Comments ranged from sarcastic jabs to serious concern over what some see as the politicization of land enforcement, though FCTA officials maintain that every action taken is strictly legal, backed by due process and long-standing defaults.
Minister Nyesom Wike has long warned that failure to pay ground rent would lead to property revocations. This week’s enforcement aligns with his broader agenda to improve transparency and boost the FCT’s internally generated revenue. With a vision to build sustainable infrastructure and fund key projects, Wike’s administration has also embraced digital transformation, recently approving Microsoft 365 licenses for the FCT Internal Revenue Service to strengthen operational efficiency.
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Still, the sealing of a key federal agency’s office has raised questions about coordination between different arms of government. While the FCTA operates under the Ministry of the FCT, the FIRS falls under the Ministry of Finance, and so far, the FIRS has not issued any official comment.
Beyond the political noise, the legal foundation for this crackdown is rock-solid. The Land Use Act mandates annual ground rent payments, and any default qualifies as a breach that empowers the government to revoke ownership rights. For defaulters owing between one and ten years, the FCTA has hinted at further actions after compiling compliance data.
Galadima confirmed that sealed buildings will remain inaccessible for now, and decisions about their future use, whether reassignment or repurposing for public benefit, will be made soon. With real estate values climbing in Abuja, these properties could represent billions in untapped economic value.
The FCTA’s aggressive drive comes just months after the controversial revocation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat’s land title over unpaid ground rent totaling N7.6 million from 2006 to 2025. Now, with both government institutions and major private entities like Access Bank being sealed, there’s growing speculation about what, and who might come next.
For residents and business owners in Abuja, the message is clear: no one is above the law. As enforcement actions continue, the FCTA is not only reclaiming revenue but also reshaping the conversation around accountability and land use in Nigeria’s capital. With billions at stake and more closures looming, this story is far from over.
