Abuja, Nigeria – March 13, 2025
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has taken back a piece of land that was given to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja. The land, known as Plot No. 243 in the Central Area (A00) District, was revoked because the PDP failed to pay the required ground rent for 20 years—from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025.
This decision was announced in an official letter from the Department of Land Administration, signed by Chijioke Nwankwoeze, the Director of Land Administration. The letter explained that despite several warnings in newspapers and on radio since 2023, the PDP did not clear its outstanding fees.
Under Nigeria’s Land Use Act of 1978, anyone who does not follow the rules for owning land can lose it. According to Section 28, Subsection 5 (a) and (b) of the Act, the government has the right to revoke land ownership if the owner does not meet their responsibilities.
With this decision, the PDP has lost all rights to the land, and the FCT Administration will now take full control of the property. The government has not yet announced what it plans to do with the land.
This revocation shows that the FCT Administration is serious about making sure all landowners pay their required fees. Landowners in Abuja are advised to check their payments to avoid losing their property.
What is Ground Rent? Ground rent is a fee paid by landowners to the government for using the land. It is an important part of land ownership in Nigeria, and failure to pay can lead to losing the land.
