Property Owners Face Three-Month Ultimatum from FCTA

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has issued a strict three-month ultimatum to property owners in Abuja’s Federal Capital City (FCC). 

Owners of undeveloped plots and abandoned buildings have been ordered to start developing their properties within this period or risk losing their land and having their structures demolished.

This directive was revealed in a document signed by Felix Obuah, the Coordinator of the Abuja Municipal Management Council (AMMC), and made public on Monday night. According to the FCTA, this ultimatum comes in response to a growing number of shanties and illegal structures across the city. 

Many of these undeveloped properties have been left vacant for years, and the FCTA has raised concerns that they have become hideouts for individuals involved in illegal activities.

Obuah explained that the situation has created a serious security threat, as these abandoned properties are now being used by “men of questionable character.” These unauthorized activities have raised alarm among residents, who worry about the safety of their neighborhoods. To address these concerns, the FCTA is taking decisive action to ensure these spaces are properly developed and secured.

“All owners of these abandoned and uncompleted buildings, as well as undeveloped plots, are hereby directed to immediately develop and secure the properties within three months from the date of this announcement,” the document stated.

Failure to meet the deadline will result in harsh penalties, including the revocation of land titles and demolition of the properties. The FCTA is not backing down, warning that any delay in compliance will lead to immediate consequences. 

The Administration also stressed that this move is part of a broader effort to improve the security and aesthetics of the city by eliminating eyesores like shanties and abandoned buildings.

Residents have voiced their concerns for some time, and the FCTA believes that this ultimatum will force developers and property owners to take responsibility for their plots. This ultimatum is also meant to curb the rise in illegal squatters, which has been a growing issue as more people move into these unsafe structures.