The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced a series of bold and far-reaching reforms aimed at overhauling the way land is allocated, developed, and managed within Abuja. These new policies, set to take effect from April 21, 2025, are designed to bring order, efficiency, and transparency to the territory’s land administration processes.
The reforms were made public during a press briefing held on Friday, April 11, and delivered through Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka.
21-Day Payment Deadline or Lose Your Land
One of the most immediate changes introduced is the strict 21-day window for land allottees to make full payments on any offer of Statutory Right of Occupancy (R-of-O). This includes bills, fees, rents, and other charges. If payment is not made within this time frame, and a completed letter of acceptance with proof of payment is not submitted, the offer becomes invalid.
Wike warned that “any R-of-O bills and any other payments made outside the stipulated 21 days shall be considered invalid.”
This marks a significant shift from the more lenient timelines previously allowed, which often led to prolonged delays in land processing and development.
Two-Year Development Timeline
In a further move to prevent land hoarding and speculative behavior, the FCT Administration has now set a firm deadline: all allocated plots must be developed within two years of the issuance of the R-of-O. Failure to build on the land within this period will result in the revocation of the land title.
This change is expected to speed up the pace of infrastructure development across Abuja and encourage serious investors and developers to take prompt action.
Area Council Land Documents to Be Regularised
The minister also addressed a longstanding issue affecting thousands of landowners across the FCT – the regularisation of Area Council-issued land documents. Despite a 2006 directive for Area Councils to submit all allocation records to the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), progress has been painfully slow.
According to Wike, out of 261,914 land documents submitted from the Area Councils, only 8,287 have been vetted in 17 years, and just 2,358 have been fully validated and upgraded to statutory titles.
“This represents just 3.2% of the total submissions. As of today, the FCT Administration is still left with 253,627 pending records,” Wike revealed.
Under the new policy, vetted Area Council land documents that pass verification will be issued statutory titles, but the beneficiaries will have 60 days to complete all required payments, failing which the title offers will become invalid.
Mass Housing Programme Under Review
Perhaps the most shocking revelation from the briefing was the dismal performance of the Mass Housing Programme – an initiative launched in 2000 to provide affordable housing through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
Of the 445 mass housing allocations issued since the programme’s inception, only two developers have met the required terms and conditions.
Wike expressed his disappointment and announced a new operational framework that aims to correct the flaws in the system. Effective April 21, 2025, developers and subscribers of mass housing estates can begin submitting applications to the Department of Land Administration for proper titling of their properties.
He noted that many residents in these estates have lived in the houses for years – sometimes decades – without paying any bills or government charges. The new framework seeks to correct this and ensure both transparency and accountability.
A Step Toward Restoring Public Trust
Overall, the FCT minister’s reforms mark a significant departure from past practices, signaling a new era of discipline in the management of land in Abuja. The reforms are not just about policy changes but are also an effort to restore public confidence in the administration’s commitment to fairness, order, and sustainable development.
With strict timelines and a renewed focus on due process, the new system is expected to discourage speculation, curb abuse, and promote timely and meaningful development across the FCT.
As Wike puts it, this is about “restoring confidence in the administration of lands in the FCT.”
