The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has introduced sweeping land reforms that will see undeveloped plots revoked two years after the issuance of Rights of Occupancy.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, April 11, the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, said the reforms—set to take effect from April 21, 2025—aim to curb speculation, boost infrastructure, and improve revenue collection.
He explained that the new framework touches on several key areas, including the conditions for granting Statutory Rights of Occupancy, payment timelines, titling of mass housing and sectional interests, and the regularisation of Area Council land documents.
“Consequently, as against the unspecified period within which to collect the Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) and make full payment of the Statutory Right of Occupancy bills and charges, land allottees now have 21 days from the date of offer, to make full payment of all bills, fees, rents and charges prescribed on offers of Statutory Rights of Occupancy and submit a duly completed Letter of acceptance alongside evidence of payments, or lose the offer,” he said.
He added that any land granted must be developed within two years. “Also, as against the lengthy period within which to develop allocated lands, the period within which to erect and complete developments on any land granted in the FCT is now two years from the date of the commencement of the R-of-O.
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“Therefore, any R-of-O bills and any other payments made outside the stipulated 21 days shall be considered invalid while any land granted should be developed within two years,” Nwankwoeze warned.
On Area Council lands, he clarified that all lands in the FCT are deemed urban and thus fall under the administration’s statutory oversight.
“It should be noted that in 2006, the Zonal Land, Planning and Survey offices of the six Area Councils were directed to submit all Area Council allocation lists, layouts, files and registers to Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS)/Lands Department, and the Area Councils did this,” he said.
“However, to date, out of the 261,914 Area Council land documents submitted for regularization, only 8,287 have been vetted, out of which only 2,358 were cleared, validated and regularized to statutory titles,” he added.
He said those whose documents are successfully vetted will have 60 days to make all required payments or forfeit their offers.
The new measures come as part of Minister Nyesom Wike’s broader strategy to reform land administration and end years of delay, misuse, and speculation across the FCT.