Wike launches landmark reforms in FCT land administration

In a bold move to sanitise land administration and restore public confidence in the management of the Federal Capital Territory’s land assets, the Minister of the FCT, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has approved sweeping reforms targeting key aspects of land allocation, titling, and development compliance.

Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, alongside Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration at the FCTA, disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja on Friday during a press briefing.

The comprehensive reforms, which take effect from April 21, 2025, are designed to plug systemic loopholes, eliminate land speculation, and streamline revenue collection, according to officials who briefed the press.

Among the most striking measures is the introduction of a strict 21-day deadline for land allottees to accept offers and pay all statutory fees. Failure to meet this deadline will lead to automatic revocation of the offer. This replaces the previous open-ended system that encouraged delays and resulted in revenue losses.

Furthermore, allottees must now develop their lands within two years of the commencement of their Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O)—a move aimed at curbing land hoarding and speculation.

“Any R-of-O bills and payments made outside the stipulated 21 days will be deemed invalid, and any land not developed within two years will risk revocation,” officials warned.

Another major highlight is the decision to commence titling of properties in Mass Housing Estates in favour of current occupants, many of whom have lived in these estates for years without formal documentation or obligations to the government.

Under the new framework, developers and subscribers are required to initiate title applications, which will be processed by the Department of Land Administration starting April 21. This is expected to correct a long-standing anomaly in the Mass Housing Programme, which—since its inception in 2000—has seen only two out of 445 developers fully comply with the original terms of allocation.

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Equally significant is the planned regularisation of land documents issued by Area Councils. Citing a 2006 directive that transferred all Area Council land records to the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), officials revealed that only 3.2% of the 261,914 submissions have been vetted, with just 2,358 regularised so far.

The new policy aims to fast-track this process, promising statutory titles for all successfully vetted documents. Allottees will then have 60 days to make full payments or forfeit the offer.

“The law is clear that all lands in the FCT are urban. What we’re doing is aligning Area Council allocations with statutory requirements to ensure a uniform, legal, and transparent land administration system,” said Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration at the FCTA.

According to officials, the reforms were necessitated by decades-long inefficiencies, including unpaid rents and fees, speculative landholding, and revenue leakages due to uncollected titles.

Lere Olayinka described the reforms as “a bold and irreversible step toward restoring sanity and public trust in the FCT’s land system.”

As the April 21 start date approaches, landholders, developers, and residents are advised to familiarise themselves with the new requirements to avoid forfeiture and ensure compliance under the new regime.