Any land granted should be developed within two years or It Gets Revoked – FCT rolls out land reforms
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has unveiled major reforms to land administration in Abuja, introducing strict timelines for land development and payment of statutory charges.
The new policies, which take effect from April 21, 2025, aim to curb land speculation, boost revenue, and fast-track infrastructure.
One of the headline reforms is the enforcement of a two-year development window. “Any land granted should be developed within two years,” said Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration at the FCTA. Failure to develop within this period will result in the revocation of the land title.
Additionally, allottees now have just 21 days from the date of offer to pay all fees, bills, rents, and charges tied to the Right of Occupancy (R-of-O). “Any R-of-O bills and any other payments made outside the stipulated 21 days shall be considered invalid,” Nwankwoeze warned.
The reforms also tackle long-standing issues with Area Council land allocations. Out of 261,914 documents submitted for regularization since 2006, only 2,358 have been approved. “The FCT Administration is still left with 253,627 submissions in its database,” he noted. Once approved, beneficiaries will have 60 days to complete payment or lose the offer.
Mass Housing schemes are also under review. Since its launch in 2000, only two out of 445 developers have met all conditions. Nwankwoeze criticized the widespread non-payment of government dues: “The holders/occupiers of properties within the various Mass Housing Estates in the FCT do not pay bills, rents, fees and charges to the government despite having held and occupied the properties for decades.”
A new framework for titling Mass Housing and Sectional Interests will also launch on April 21, marking a new chapter in FCT land governance.
