Again, FCTA Minister, Wike Slams N5m Fine on Illegal Conversion of Residential Plots in Abuja 

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has imposed a N5 million fine on land allottees who illegally converted residential plots to commercial use in parts of Abuja city centre.

The affected areas include Gana Street in Maitama, Gimbiya Street in Garki, Aminu Kano Crescent, Ademola Adetokunbo Street in Wuse II, and other selected streets.

The decision followed the recommendations of an ad hoc committee set up by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to review controversies surrounding land use and purpose clauses in locations overtaken by commercial activities.

In a statement by Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, the committee on land use, chaired by the Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, observed that several properties had been illegally converted into offices, hotels, and other business premises without approval from the FCTA.

The statement partly reads: “The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has slammed a N5 million fine on land allottees, who illegally converted residential plots to commercial use on Gana, Gimbiya, Aminu Kano, Ademola Adetokunbo and other selected streets in the city centre.

“The decision was part of recommendations by an Adhoc Committee on the Review of Land Use/Purpose Clauses of Land and Properties at locations overtaken by commercial and other activities.

“Recall that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had on August 8, 2025, inaugurated an ad-hoc committees on the review of controversies surrounding the River Park Estate, an another committee on the review of Land use/purpose clauses of land and properties at locations overtaken by commercial and other activities.

“Both committees were given two weeks within which to review the issues and submit recommendations back to the minister.

“Presenting its report to the minister on Tuesday, the land use committee observed that majority of the structures on Gimbiya Street in Garki, Gana Street in Maitama, and the busy Ademola Adetokumbo Street in Wuse II had been converted to offices, hotels and other businesses without recourse to their original purpose clauses or necessary approval from the FCTA.

“The committee, chaired by Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, also frowned at illegal extensions, mergers and subdivisions of properties in the affected areas.

“It therefore recommended that the purpose clauses of the affected properties be formally converted to commercial or other compatible uses, subject to the payment of fresh fees.

“With this development, title holders of the land and properties affected by the land use conversion are expected to pay a conversion fee of 7.5percent of the assessed Capital Value of their properties.

“This is in addition to the payment of Statutory Right of Occupancy bills applicable for the new land use/purpose clause charged for the Districts.”

Source: X | OlayinkaLere

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