Wike imposes N5m fine on land defaulters in FCT crackdown

Wike imposes N5m fine on land defaulters in FCT, ordering payment within 30 days, with threat of title revocation and property seizure for non-compliance

Wike imposes N5m fine on land defaulters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as part of a sweeping crackdown on violations of the Land Use Act.

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FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, approved a penalty of ₦5 million, payable within 30 days, for allottees and title holders found to have contravened land use regulations.

He also endorsed a 7.5% charge on the Assessed Capital Value (ACV) of properties converted without approval, also due within 30 days.

The announcement followed the submission of a report by the Land Use and Purposes Clause Committee, which was inaugurated on August 8, 2025.

The committee’s findings revealed widespread abuse of property use in prime areas such as Ademola Adetokunbo Street, Aminu Kano Crescent, Yakubu Gowon Street, and Gana Street.

According to committee chairman, Muktar Galadima, properties worth over ₦1 trillion had been illegally converted for residential, commercial, or mixed use. He recommended fines, sealing of properties, demolition, and even revocation of land titles for persistent offenders.

Minister Wike vowed that no defaulter would escape sanctions.

“I’m not going to leave anybody to go free. We are looking for money to carry out projects. If you don’t comply, we’ll take back your title, sell it, and still raise money,” he warned.

He emphasized that land use designations must be respected, stressing that the administration would not tolerate indiscriminate changes without government approval.

The sanctions cover not only unauthorized conversions but also illegal extensions, mergers, and subdivisions, with offenders required to pay an additional 2% ACV fee within the 30-day deadline.

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With this bold move, the FCT Administration aims to restore order in land use while generating much-needed revenue for critical projects.

Quadri Olaitan