The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday, May 26, shut down an Access Bank branch and a Total petrol station in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, over failure to pay ground rent for 34 years.
Although Access Bank operates on the site, the land is officially allocated to Rana Tahir Furniture Nigeria Limited, according to official documents.
In a letter dated March 13, 2025, Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, informed the company that the Minister of the FCT had revoked its rights to the property.
“The Minister of Federal Capital Territory has in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, revoked your rights, interests and privileges over Plot No. 2456 within Wuse I, Cadastral Zone A02, Abuja,” the letter read.
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The revocation, it continued, was due to “continued contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for Thirty-Four (34) years.”
FCTA also sealed off the office of the Federal Inland Revenue Service in Abuja for similar violations.
The action is part of a broader crackdown on property owners defaulting on ground rent payments across the capital.
Officials noted that since 2023, several notices and public warnings had been issued urging allottees to settle their outstanding debts.