Tinubu Grants 14-Day Grace Period to FCT Property Owners Amid Rising Tensions

In a surprise but calculated move, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a 14-day grace period for defaulting property owners in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), following rising outcry over a wave of property revocations tied to unpaid ground rents.

The grace period, announced late Monday by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, comes as nearly 5,000 properties in Abuja face legal revocation after owners failed to settle their dues some for more than 40 years.

“This decision was made out of concern for the people,” Wike said during a press briefing. “We are urging all affected parties to take advantage of this window to regularize their documents and avoid the consequences of forfeiture.”

According to official records, 4,794 properties were slated for revocation by the FCT Administration (FCTA) due to prolonged non-payment of ground rent, a key annual tax imposed on landholders within Abuja. The announcement had sparked criticism, with many property owners claiming they were unaware of their debts or had not received proper notifications.

Also Read: Atiku Vows: “I Will Never Stop Until I Become Nigeria’s President”

Political analysts say the president’s intervention is a strategic attempt to balance urban regulatory enforcement with the rising political cost of appearing out of touch with Nigerians, particularly the upper middle class and diaspora investors who own significant properties in Abuja.

“This move is not just about taxes; it’s political damage control,” said Dr. Tola Oduwole, a policy expert at the Nigerian Institute of Town Planning. “With 2027 approaching, Tinubu cannot afford to alienate influential landowners in the capital.”

Residents welcomed the grace period, but some criticized the FCTA’s approach, calling for a more transparent and digitized rent collection system that notifies owners regularly via email and SMS rather than relying on outdated paperwork and notices.

“I didn’t even know I was owing,” said Ngozi Eze, a businesswoman whose property in Gwarinpa was among the listed defaulters. “The government needs to modernize this system. You can’t expect people to pay what they didn’t know they owed.”

Also Read: Peter Obi: “If I Lose in 2027, I Will Quit Presidential Race for Good”

Opposition leaders have also weighed in. The Labour Party described the revocations as “punitive and exploitative,” warning that the FCTA must not use ground rent as a means of grabbing land from the poor and middle class.

With the grace period now in place, FCTA officials say they are preparing to open multiple walk-in payment centers and launch an online portal to help property owners settle their dues with ease.

Failure to comply before the grace period ends could lead to permanent revocation of land titles a situation that experts warn may further fuel property disputes in courts and reduce investor confidence in Nigeria’s real estate sector.

Follow us on X @Dobblog1