The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed premises of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Access Bank and Total Energy in Wuse over unpaid ground rent.
The FCTA also sealed the Chinese Cultural Centre, Wuse, belonging to Jade Garden Restaurants, for nonpayment of ground rent for 19 years.
The Director of Land, FCTA, Mr Chijoke Nwankwoeze, explained during the exercise in Abuja on Monday, that the properties have reverted to the FCTA.
Nwankwoeze said that the exercise marks the commencement of taking possession of more than 4,794 revoked properties by the FCTA, over unpaid ground rent amounting to more than N6 billion.
He explained that the FIRS building on Plot 627, Wuse Zone 5, owed the FCTA ground rent for 25 years.
He also said that Access Bank building, on Plot No. 2456, Wuse I, Cadastral Zone A02, Abuja, belonging to Rana Tahir Furniture Nig. Ltd, had also not paid ground rent for 34 years.
He said that the property has thus reverted to the FCTA who has now taken possession thereof.
Earlier, the enforcement team sealed Total Energy Petrol Station on plot 534 cadastral zone A02 Wuse Zone 1, belonging to Total PLC, over unpaid ground rent for more than 10 years.
The Director Development Control, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, who led the tasks force, said that the action was to take possession of the property which had been revoked in March.
Galadima recalled that the FCTA has announced its decision to take possession of the more than 4,000 revoked properties in the territory for non-payment of ground rent for more than 10 years.
“So, today is just to comply with what we have said that we are going to take over all the revoked properties and we are starting with a plot 534 cadastral zone A02 that Wuse Zone 1, owned by Total PLC,” he said.
Also sealed is the office of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons on Plot 2028, Dalaba Street, Wuse, belonging to Nigeria Sugar Company Ltd for the same offence.
Grand Ibro Hotel, on Plot 2359, Wuse Zone 5, whose land title belong to Dubabi and Company was also sealed over 26-year unpaid ground rent, including Mamuda Group Warehouse.
However, shortly after FIRS office was sealed, the seals were removed, which Galadima described as a criminal offence, adding that the FCTA would take a legal action.
