Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Friday, introduced sweeping reforms in land administration, including a landmark policy that mandates the revocation of undeveloped plots two years after the issuance of Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O).
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land Administration in the FCTA, and Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Communications, elaborated on the new reforms set to take effect on April 21, 2025. These reforms cover several aspects of land management, including the grant conditions for Statutory Rights of Occupancy, titling for Mass Housing, regularization of Area Council land documents, and payments and deadlines related to land allocations.
Key Changes and Timeline
Under the new rules, land allottees will now have 21 days from the date of the offer to make full payments on their R-of-O bills, rents, fees, and charges. Failure to comply within the specified period will lead to the invalidity of the offer.
In a significant shift, land development deadlines have also been introduced. All land granted in the FCT must be developed within two years from the date the R-of-O commences. If development is not completed within the stipulated timeframe, the Right of Occupancy will be revoked.
Chijioke Nwankwoeze explained that prior to these reforms, there were no clearly defined deadlines for payment or land development, which had led to delays in infrastructure development, land speculation, and a slow pace in collecting fees. The introduction of strict timelines is aimed at improving the revenue collection process and accelerating development.
Reform to Regularize Area Council Land
The FCTA also announced the regularization of land documents issued by the six Area Councils of the FCT. Nwankwoeze revealed that over 261,000 land documents were submitted by the councils for regularization, but only a small percentage — about 3.2% — have been cleared and validated since 2006. The regularization of these documents is now a priority, and all vetted lands will be issued statutory titles within 60 days. Failure to make payments within this period will lead to the invalidity of the offer.
Mass Housing and Titling
The Mass Housing Programme, launched in 2000 to provide affordable housing in the FCT, has faced significant challenges, with only two developers successfully meeting the terms set forth by the government. As part of the reforms, a new operational framework for titling Mass Housing and Sectional Interests has been introduced. This will streamline the process and ensure that beneficiaries of the housing estates, some of whom have held properties for decades without titles, can now receive the official documentation they require.
Nwankwoeze emphasized that the new operational framework would ensure that Mass Housing and Sectional Interests are handled efficiently, bringing stability and confidence to land administration in the FCT. Titling applications for Mass Housing will begin on April 21, 2025.
Addressing Land Speculation and Infrastructural Delays
The new reforms aim to curb the land speculation and racketeering that have been prevalent in the FCT. Nwankwoeze pointed out that previous delays in payments and land development had slowed infrastructure growth and led to massive expenses by the FCT Administration, including the repeated advertisements and publications calling for the timely collection of fees and charges.
A Commitment to Transparency and Growth
Wike’s administration is determined to restore transparency and discipline in the FCT’s land administration processes. With these reforms, the FCT Ministry aims to ensure that land resources are better utilized, development is accelerated, and landowners are held accountable for meeting their obligations.
These sweeping land reforms are part of Minister Nyesom Wike’s broader vision to enhance urban development, promote investment, and create a more structured and effective system of land governance in the Federal Capital Territory.
