The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed the premises of the Federal Internal Revenue Service (FIRS), Access Bank and Total Energy in Wuse over unpaid ground rent.

The FCTA’s director of land, Chijoke Nwankwoeze, explained during the exercise in Abuja on Monday that the properties have reverted to the FCTA.

Mr Nwankwoeze said the exercise marks the commencement of taking possession of more than 4,794 revoked properties by the FCTA.

He explained that the FIRS building on Plot 627, Wuse Zone 5, owed the FCTA ground rent for 25 years.

The director also said the Access Bank building, on Plot No. 2456, Wuse I, Cadastral Zone A02, Abuja, belonging to Rana Tahir Furniture Nig. Ltd had also not paid ground rent for 34 years.

He said the property has thus reverted to the FCTA, which has now taken possession.

Earlier, the enforcement team sealed Total Energy on plot 534 Cadastral Zone A02, Wuse Zone 1, belonging to Total PLC, over unpaid ground rent for more than 10 years.

The director of development control, Mukhtar Galadima, said the action was to take possession of the property, which had been revoked in March.

Mr Galadima recalled that the FCTA had announced its decision to take possession of over 4,000 revoked properties in the territory for non-payment of ground rent for more than 10 years.

“So, today is just to comply with what we have said that we are going to take over all the revoked properties, and we are starting with Plot 534 Cadastral Zone A02, that Wuse Zone 1, owned by Total PLC,” he said.

(NAN)