Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has fined some property owners in Abuja N5 million each for converting their buildings to other uses without approval.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a notice published in national dailies on Monday, the FCT administration (FCTA) said affected property owners have 30 days to regularise their titles. Most of the violations involved converting residential properties into commercial spaces.
Among those listed are Abdullahi Ganduje, former national chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC); Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former governor of Osun; Atanda Fatai-Williams and Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, both former justices of the Supreme Court; as well as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
According to the statement, any property owner who altered the land use without approval has until September 10, 2025, to pay a penalty fee of N5 million.
The notice reads, “This is to notify the general public, particularly allottees/title holders of properties, that the Honourable Minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), 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 (FCC).”
“All affected allottees/holders of properties who, without approval, converted the land use of their properties on the above listed streets/locations, having violated the terms and conditions of grant of the right of occupancy, are hereby given thirty (30) days from Wednesday, 10 of September, 2025, to pay a penalty/violation fee of five million naira (N5,000,000.00).”
The FCTA directed affected owners to visit its land administration department with their title documents and valid identification for collection of approval letters reflecting the new land use and applicable fees.
The notice added that new title documents including statutory rights of occupancy and certificates of occupancy—will be issued for a fresh term of 99 years once conditions are met.
The affected properties are located in Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, Garki II, and Garki I districts of Abuja. However, the FCTA clarified that the exercise does not apply to properties whose titles were previously revoked due to non-development, unpaid ground rent, or other violations.
