Daniel Otera
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is witnessing a significant crackdown on land use violations, as Minister Nyesom Wike has rolled out stringent measures to enforce compliance with the Land Use Act. On Tuesday, Wike approved a N5 million fine for allottees and land title holders who have flouted land use regulations, alongside a 7.5 per cent charge on the Assessed Capital Value of properties illegally converted without the approval of the FCT Administration.
The decision follows an investigation by the Land Use and Purposes Clause Committee, chaired by Muktar Galadima, Director of Development Control. The committee, inaugurated on August 8, 2025, was tasked with addressing widespread abuses of the Land Use Act in the FCT. Galadima presented the committee’s findings to Wike, revealing that numerous properties, particularly along high-value corridors like Ademola Adetokunbo Street, Aminu Kano Crescent, Yakubu Gowon Street, and Gana Street, had been illegally converted for residential, commercial, or mixed-use purposes, in violation of their original allocations.
“The committee identified properties with a total capital value of N1,037,478,716,500 that contravened their designated land use,” Galadima disclosed during his presentation.
He outlined a series of sanctions for non-compliant title holders, including a mandatory 7.5 per cent land use conversion fee based on the assessed capital value of the properties, alongside statutory Right of Occupancy bills for the new land use. Additionally, properties involved in illegal extensions, mergers, or subdivisions face a further 2.0 per cent fee on their assessed capital value.
Galadima warned that failure to comply within the 30-day window could lead to severe consequences, including the sealing of properties, demolition of unapproved structures, or outright revocation of titles.
“The committee recommends that allottees pay these fees within 30 days from the date of approval conveyance,” he stated, emphasising the administration’s resolve to enforce compliance.
Wike, known for his no-nonsense approach, minced no words in his response to the committee’s report.
“I’m not going to leave anybody to go free,” he declared. “We are looking for money to carry on projects. If you fall into our trap, it’s your business.” The minister underscored the importance of the fines in generating revenue for the FCT’s development agenda, while also addressing the rampant disregard for land use regulations.
“Some have changed residential to commercial, some have changed commercial to residential, and some have changed for all kinds of mixed uses. If you don’t sanction them, it will continue to be so,” Wike added.
The minister clarified that the fines and conversion fees are distinct penalties, designed to both punish violators and regularise their properties. However, he warned that non-compliance could lead to the revocation of titles, with the FCT Administration prepared to reallocate such lands to raise funds.
“If you don’t want to pay, we take back your title, we sell it, and we will still raise money,” Wike stated firmly.
This development has sparked widespread discussion among property owners, developers, and residents in the FCT. Data from the FCT Administration indicates that land use violations have been a persistent challenge, with over 40 per cent of properties in prime areas like Maitama, Wuse, and Garki reportedly deviating from their original purpose clauses.
The Journal gathered that the Department of Development Control in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) intensified enforcement of the Abuja Master Plan in 2023, dismantling 11,705 illegal structures and shanty settlements across the city. Official figures show the department generated about ₦2.535 billion between January and October, representing 68.5 per cent of its ₦3.7 billion revenue target. Out of 1,765 applications submitted within the same period, 1,422 building plans were approved, a process that facilitated the creation of more than 13,800 direct and indirect jobs.
Beyond demolitions and revenue generation, enforcement actions also extended into 2024. In May, over 500 illegal structures and shanties along the Karmo–Dei-Dei Road corridor were issued 24-hour demolition notices after being identified as a nuisance that obstructed traffic and posed environmental hazards, especially on market days. These measures highlight the government’s dual approach of regulating urban growth while addressing congestion and infrastructure pressures.
The N5 million fine and 7.5 percent conversion fee are expected to generate significant revenue for the FCT, with estimates suggesting that the affected properties could yield upwards of N77 billion in conversion fees alone, based on the reported N1.037 trillion capital value.
Additionally, the 2.0 percent fee for illegal extensions and subdivisions could add another N20 billion to the FCT’s coffers, providing much-needed funds for ongoing projects like road construction, water supply improvements, and urban renewal initiatives.