If you own land in Abuja or are planning to buy, you need to pay close attention to the news coming out of the FCT Administration this month. The landscape of property ownership in the capital is shifting, and “business as usual” is no longer an option.
In a decisive move to sanitize the real estate sector and improve revenue, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has initiated a series of strict reforms that have sent shockwaves through the market. From mass revocations to new digital identification requirements, these changes are designed to catch defaulters and fraudsters.
But what does this mean for you, the honest investor? Are your documents in order? Is your investment secure?
This comprehensive update breaks down the recent developments and provides a clear checklist to ensure your property remains safe.
The “Revocation” Order: What Happened?
In late November 2025, the FCT Administration officially announced the revocation of 1,095 Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os).
- Who was affected? The list includes properties in premium districts like Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, and Garki. It affects both private individuals and corporate organizations.
- Why were they revoked? The primary reason cited is the non-payment of Ground Rent. Many landowners believed that once they bought a property, they owed nothing further. However, Ground Rent is an annual statutory obligation. The FCTA had issued multiple warnings and 14-day ultimatums which, according to the administration, were ignored by these titleholders.
- The Implication: A revoked title means the land technically reverts to the government. This is a wake-up call that holding a C of O is not enough; you must remain compliant with all statutory fees.
The New Rule: NIN & BVN Now Mandatory for C of Os
To combat the rampant issue of “Title Cloning” (where fraudsters create fake C of O documents for the same plot of land), the FCT Minister has introduced a new layer of security.
The New Requirement: Going forward, all new C of O applications—and the recertification of existing ones—will require:
- National Identification Number (NIN) for individual owners.
- Bank Verification Number (BVN) for corporate/company owners.
Why this is Good News for You: While this might seem like extra paperwork, it is actually a massive win for legitimate investors. By linking land titles to unique biometric data (NIN/BVN), it becomes nearly impossible for a scammer to forge your title or sell your land behind your back. It adds a digital “lock” to your physical property.
The Danger Zone: Demolitions in “Unapproved” Estates
Simultaneously, the Department of Development Control has intensified demolitions in areas like Sabon Lugbe and parts of the Airport Road corridor.
Many buyers in these areas purchased cheap land from “estate developers” who promised that the papers were “processing.” The harsh reality? Many of these estates were built on land that was never approved for residential use or was part of a government corridor.
The Lesson: A fancy estate gate and a marketing brochure are not proof of a legal title.
Your Safety Checklist: How to Protect Your Investment
At MiraEmma Properties, we are proactively helping our clients navigate these changes. Here is what you need to do immediately:
- Check Your Ground Rent Status: Don’t assume you are clear. Visit the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) or hire a consultant to check if there are any outstanding ground rent bills on your property. Pay them immediately.
- Prepare for Recertification: If you already have a C of O, get your NIN or your company’s BVN ready. We expect the FCTA to release the official timeline for the mass recertification exercise soon. Be ready to update your records.
- Verify Before You Buy: This is more critical than ever. With revocations happening, some desperate owners of “bad land” may try to sell quickly to unsuspecting buyers.
- Do not buy without a Legal Search report from AGIS.
- Do not buy without a Surveyor’s Charting report to ensure the land isn’t in a demolition zone.
Invest with Eyes Wide Open
These reforms are cleaning up the market, but they can be scary if you are navigating them alone. The era of buying land based on “trust” is over. You need verification.
At MiraEmma Properties, we don’t just sell land; we ensure it is secure. We verify the Ground Rent status, the Title validity, and the physical location of every single property in our portfolio.
Don’t get caught in the revocation web. Contact us today to verify your current holdings or to buy verified, safe property in Abuja.
