The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced a sweeping overhaul of land administration procedures in Abuja, introducing stricter timelines for land payments and development to curb speculation and enhance accountability.
Effective April 21, 2025, land allottees will now have 21 days from the date of receiving their land offer to pay all associated fees, including Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) charges. Any delay beyond the deadline will result in the automatic cancellation of the land offer.
The reform was made public through a joint statement issued by the Director of FCTA Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, and Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Communication, Lere Olayinka.
According to the statement, the new directives aim to address long-standing issues such as delayed payments, land hoarding, and speculation that have stifled development efforts in the capital.
“This has led to a slow pace of infrastructural development, loss of revenue due to non-payment, and persistent land speculation and racketeering,” the statement read. “The FCT Administration has also incurred huge costs from repeated public notices urging allottees to collect their R-of-O and settle their bills.”
Under the new guidelines, allottees must make full payment of all bills, fees, rents, and charges within the 21-day window and submit a duly completed letter of acceptance along with proof of payment. Payments made outside this period, the FCTA warned, will be deemed invalid.
In a bold move to accelerate urban development, the minister also directed that all land allocated within the FCT must be developed within two years of receiving the Right of Occupancy.
“The period within which to erect and complete developments on any land granted in the FCT is now two years from the date of commencement of the R-of-O,” the statement emphasized. “Failure to comply will result in revocation or sanctions as may be deemed necessary.”
The FCTA insists that the reforms are necessary to improve service delivery, boost internally generated revenue, and sanitize the land allocation process.
This is part of Minister Wike’s broader agenda to restructure the FCT’s land administration, making it more transparent and result-oriented. He had earlier vowed to tackle land racketeering and enforce regulations that promote responsible ownership and rapid development.
As of press time, reactions from property developers and stakeholders have been mixed, with some praising the reforms as long overdue, while others expressed concern over the strict timeline, especially for large-scale developers.
