Wike Slams N5m Fine On Land Use Violators

The Minister of FCT, Dr Nyesom Wike, has approved N5 million fine, payable within 30 days, on allottees and land title holders who have contravened the Land Use Act in the territory.

In addition, the Minister also imposed 7.5 percent charges on the Assessed Capital Value of properties converted without the approval of the FCT Administration, also payable within 30 days.

Wike made this known in Abuja when he received two Committee reports set up to address ‘Controversies surrounding River Park Estate’ and “abuses of the Land Use Act” in the FCT.

The committees were inaugurated on August 8, 2025, with the Minister describing land abuse as “very important” in streamlining the activities of the FCT Administration on emerging land matters.

Chairman of the Land Use and Purposes Clause Committee, and Director of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, said the committee discovered that many properties on Ademola Adetokunbo Street, Aminu Kano Crescent, Yakubu Gowon Street, Gana Street, among others, had been converted to residential, commercial, or mixed-use purposes in violation of their original approvals.

He added that the total capital value of the affected properties amounted to N1,037,478,716,500, while recommending sanctions on defaulting title holders, including sealing of property, demolition of illegal structures, revocation, and withdrawal of titles if fines are not paid.

“The Committee hereby recommends as follows: That, allottees/title holders of land and properties affected by the land use change/conversion, pay within thirty (30) days from the date of conveyance of approval, Land Use Conversion fee of 7.5% of the assessed Capital Value of the properties as contained in the Schedule/Valuation Report Sheet.

“That, allottees/title holders of the land and properties affected by the land use change/conversion, in addition to payment of Land Use Conversion fee, pay statutory Right of Occupancy bills applicable for the new land use/purpose clause and as charged for the District;

“That, where illegal/unapproved extension, merger and subdivision has been established, the allottee/title holder of the property… pay, within thirty (30) days from the date of conveyance of approval, extension/merger/ subdivision fee of the extant 2.0% of the assessed Capital Value of the properties as contained in the Schedule/Valuation Report Sheet,” Galadima said.

Reacting after receiving the reports,Wike commended the committee for its work, stressing that no defaulter would be allowed to go unpunished, as the administration was determined to generate funds to finance projects in the FCT.

“I’m aware that certain areas are designated for residential and others for commercial, but people believe they can do anything without approval, converting residential to commercial, commercial to residential, and all kinds of mixed uses. If you don’t sanction them, it will continue.So if an area is commercial, let it be commercial. If it is for mixed use, let it be mixed use. People should understand they can’t continue this way.”

Wike insisted that sanctions would be strictly enforced, including the withdrawal of titles. “We must let you know that we have to apply the sanction as required, and anybody who does not comply, we have no choice but to revoke the title and withdraw it,” the minister stated.

Remi Johnson, Edited By Grace Namiji