The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has cancelled 485 land documents across the FCT after they all failed verification checks.
The decision followed a review law by the Department of Land Administration and the Abuja Geographic Information Systems.
According to officials, many of the applications were found to be fake and could not pass authenticity screening.
FCT Confirms Removal of Fraudulent Files from Database
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has issued a public notice confirming the removal of affected files from the regularisation database.
This action targets 485 land documents in Abuja, declared invalid due to fraudulent activities.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike emphasized that this step underscores the administration’s zero-tolerance policy on land fraud.
The decision ensures only legitimate titles remain in the system, protecting residents and promoting transparency in land allocation processes.
The notice warned the lands holders of the invalid documents to take note of the development.
“This is to inform the general public, particularly applicants who submitted Area Council land documents for regularisation.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has approved the nullification of applications that failed the necessary official checks for genuineness and have been confirmed to be fake.”
Authorities explained that the action reflects the minister’s resolve to sanitise the land administration system in Abuja.
The cancelled documents cut across several Area Councils and layouts.
In Bwari Area Council, affected layouts include Ushafa Village Expansion Scheme, Ushafa Extension and Dawaki Extension 1.
AMAC Areas Hit by FCT’s 485 Fraudulent Land Cancellations
In the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has identified several key areas affected by the cancellation of 485 fraudulent land documents.
These include high-demand zones such as Kurudu-Jikwoyi Relocation and Kurudu Commercial, which have seen significant development interest.
Additional impacted districts are Karu Village Extension, Nyanya Phase IV Extension, Jikwoyi Residential, Sabon Lugbe, and Lugbe I Extension.
This targeted removal from the regularisation database aims to curb illegal grabs and restore order to Abuja’s urban planning.
In Kuje Area Council, Kuchiyako One layout was listed among those affected.
Under Nigerian law, all land in the Federal Capital Territory belongs to the Federal Government.
This centralized process ensures oversight and prevents fraudulent allocations in Abuja’s land administration.
What Does The Law Says About Owning A Land in Abuja?
The reality of land ownership in Abuja.
Under the Land Use Act of 1978, all land in Nigeria is technically owned by the government. But in the FCT, things go a step further: land is held in trust by the President and administered by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) through the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
AGIS Mandates Processing for All Land Title Verifications
Bypassing these channels, as seen in the 485 cancelled cases, leads to immediate invalidation and removal from the regularisation database.
Some cases involved fake signatures, manipulated survey plans and syndicates operating around land sales.
FCTA Orders Abuja Landholders to Verify Documents
Earlier this year, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) issued a directive urging landholders in Abuja to submit their documents for thorough verification and regularisation.
Thousands of submissions dating back to 2006 underwent rigorous review, but only a small fraction successfully passed the screening process.
Authorities flagged and removed the majority, including the 485 recently cancelled fraudulent titles. This action reinforces the FCT’s commitment to transparent land governance.
This administration had also issued deadlines for payments and documentation, warning that defaulting landholders risked losing their titles.
However, this latest action focuses mainly on fraud and lack of genuineness, not on unpaid fees or undeveloped plots.
