FCTA Shuts Down FIRS Office in Abuja Over Ground Rent Debt

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed off a key office of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in Abuja due to non-payment of ground rent.

The action was carried out on Monday, May 26, 2025, as part of the FCTA’s ongoing

enforcement drive against property owners who have defaulted on their statutory obligations.

The development was confirmed by Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Media, who announced the closure via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

This move comes amid a broader crackdown by the FCTA, which recently revoked 4,794 land titles across Abuja’s prime districts—including Wuse, Maitama, Asokoro, and Garki—over unpaid ground rents spanning more than a decade. The administration has been intensifying efforts to recover billions of naira in lost revenue from defaulters.

The FCTA has warned that more properties may face similar enforcement actions if outstanding ground rent debts are not settled promptly. Officials have reiterated that compliance with land use regulations is mandatory, and failure to meet financial obligations could result in property seizures