A sweeping directive from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has sent shockwaves through Abuja’s highbrow property landscape, as top political figures, judicial icons, and corporate giants face stiff penalties for unauthorised property conversions.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) announced on Monday, September 8, 2025, that property owners who converted residential buildings to commercial use without official approval must now pay a ₦5 million penalty within 30 days or face further sanctions.
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High-Profile Property Owners Affected
Among the notable figures affected by this policy are Abdullahi Ganduje, former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former governor of Osun State; Aloma Mariam Mukhtar and Atanda Fatai-Williams, former justices of the Supreme Court; and NNPC Limited, Nigeria’s state-owned oil company.
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These individuals and organisations were listed among several others found to have violated the terms of their property titles by altering the approved land use without authorisation from the FCTA.
Wike’s Crackdown on Land Use Violations
In a public notice published in national dailies, the FCTA stated:
“All affected allottees/title holders… are hereby given thirty (30) days from Wednesday, 10th of September, 2025, to pay a penalty/violation fee of five million naira (N5,000,000.00).”
The notice further revealed that the affected properties are situated in some of Abuja’s most prestigious districts, including Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, Garki I, and Garki II—locations known for their blend of elite residential and commercial developments.
The policy targets title holders who converted their properties from residential to commercial use—such as offices, lounges, clinics, and guest houses—without obtaining the required change-of-use approval from the Land Administration Department.
30-Day Ultimatum to Regularize Titles
The minister’s directive mandates all affected property owners to visit the FCTA Department of Land Administration at No. 4 Peace Drive, Central Business District, Abuja, with original title documents and a valid means of identification.
Once penalties are paid and the land use change is approved, the property owners will receive letters of conveyance of approval and new title documents, including a Statutory Right of Occupancy and a Certificate of Occupancy, valid for a fresh term of 99 years.
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Exemptions and Limitations
However, the FCTA clarified that this regularisation exercise does not apply to properties whose titles were previously revoked due to non-development. Withdrawn over failure to pay ground rent or lost for other administrative violations.
Policy Aimed at Urban Order, Revenue Boost
This policy is seen as part of Minister Wike’s broader efforts to restore order to land administration in Abuja, enhance urban planning compliance, and generate additional revenue for the FCT through regulatory enforcement.
Urban planning experts say the conversion of residential properties into commercial use—common in districts like Wuse II and Maitama—has strained infrastructure and caused zoning conflicts in Nigeria’s capital.
With just 30 days on the clock, top landlords—both private and institutional—must act swiftly or risk further penalties. As Wike tightens the noose on unregulated property conversions, the FCT may witness a sharp recalibration of property ownership, use, and compliance.
