Abuja, 11 November 2025 — The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has once again demonstrated his unmistakable resolve to restore order and accountability within Nigeria’s capital city. In a decisive move, the Minister announced a final 14-day grace period for property owners who have violated Abuja’s approved land-use regulations to regularize their status and pay a mandatory penalty.

This directive, which officially took effect on Tuesday, November 11, applies to properties located in some of Abuja’s most prominent districts — Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, Garki I, and Garki II. According to the announcement, property owners who converted residential buildings into commercial spaces or altered their approved usage without authorization must now pay a penalty fee of ₦5 million and complete all regularization requirements through the FCTA Department of Land Administration.

To the casual observer, this may sound like another government enforcement notice. But in reality, it marks a turning point in the long-standing struggle to maintain the integrity of urban development in Abuja. The city, originally designed as a model of modern urban planning, has in recent years faced creeping violations — residential neighborhoods turned into business hubs, green areas encroached upon, and traffic congestion worsening due to unplanned commercial conversions.

Minister Wike’s order is therefore not just administrative; it is political, symbolic, and deeply structural. It represents a broader effort to reassert the authority of the FCT Administration and restore confidence in Abuja’s master plan. For years, irregular developments have flourished, largely unchecked, creating a sense that rules in the capital city could be bent by influence or ignored entirely. By enforcing compliance even through tough measures such as demolition or title revocation the FCT Minister is signaling that governance must once again be anchored on discipline, accountability, and lawful process.

However, this development also opens up a larger conversation about urban governance and citizens’ responsibility. Many property owners claim that the approval process for land-use changes is often slow, bureaucratic, and opaque. If the government demands strict compliance, it must also ensure efficiency, transparency, and fairness in its administrative systems. Regularization should not become another burden or a revenue drive disguised as reform  it must be part of a genuine strategy to restore order while protecting legitimate investors.

For Abuja residents and investors, the message is clear: the era of informal land conversions and unauthorized property use is coming to an end. The FCTA’s 14-day ultimatum is a final call for accountability an opportunity for property owners to come forward, regularize their holdings, and participate in rebuilding a capital city that reflects the law, not loopholes.

In a country where urban law enforcement often lags behind development, this policy could serve as a model for other states. If sustained and implemented with fairness, it could reshape the culture of impunity around land administration. The next two weeks will be decisive not only for the affected property owners, but for the credibility of urban governance in Nigeria’s capital.

Abuja must not just grow; it must grow right.