By Azeez Sulaiman
The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has authorized the immediate cancellation of 485 land title applications after they failed a rigorous verification and integrity screening process.
The move is part of an ongoing offensive to sanitize the capital’s land registry and restore the integrity of the Abuja Master Plan.
The decision followed a comprehensive review of applications submitted for the regularization of Area Council land documents.
According to the FCT Administration (FCTA), the affected applications failed to meet mandatory standards of authenticity and compliance with established land administration procedures.
The Minister has directed the Department of Land Administration and the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) to strike the invalid records from their databases.
The cancellation affects a diverse range of applicants, including private individuals, cooperative societies, and prominent religious organizations. Notable entities listed in the public notice include the Redeemed Christian Church of God and the Ministry of Justice Staff Multi-purpose Cooperative Society.
The revoked titles are spread across several high-growth districts within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), including Sabon Lugbe, Lugbe I Extension, Kurudu, Karu, and Nyanya.
Significant cancellations were also recorded in Bwari and Kuje Area Councils, specifically targeting layouts in Ushafa, Dawaki, and Kuchiyako.
Under the Land Use Act, all land in the FCT is vested in the Federal Government, requiring titles to be processed through the Minister’s office and formalized via AGIS.
Since assuming office in 2023, Wike has overseen a sweeping audit to curb irregular and double allocations. This latest purge serves as a final notice to the affected applicants and underscores the FCTA’s commitment to preventing unplanned development and speculative land holding in the nation’s capital.