FG’s Warning: Occupy Your Unoccupied Abuja Homes or Face Triple Ground Rent

In an effort to address the issue of widespread unoccupied buildings in Abuja, the Federal Government has issued a stern warning to the proprietors of such properties, urging them to either occupy their houses promptly or face the prospect of paying triple the usual ground rent for their unutilized assets.

The proclamation came forth from the Minister of Housing, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa, subsequent to his comprehensive tour of various government housing construction sites across Abuja and Niger State. Among the notable locations inspected during this ministerial tour were the Mega City Project along Kubwa Express, the Apo-Guzape Housing Project, the Prototype Housing Scheme in Suleja, and the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) program.

Dangiwa articulated that the rationale behind tripling the ground rent for numerous houses and estates in Abuja was to incentivize property owners to occupy or lease out their unutilized buildings. This measure, he believes, would act as a catalyst for alleviating the chronic issue of vacant properties in the region.

Expounding on the government’s strategy, the minister revealed that a comprehensive census of unoccupied estates in the capital city was imminent. This initiative aims to identify and catalogue the vast number of abandoned properties, particularly in Abuja and its environs. Dangiwa underscored the significance of engaging with the owners of these neglected structures to determine their intentions and, subsequently, implement the appropriate measures.

“There are numerous abandoned estates, especially in Abuja and the surrounding areas. In some other states, we also observe a similar phenomenon. What’s paramount now is that we want to conduct a thorough inventory of all these abandoned houses. Subsequently, we will engage with the owners to ascertain their plans for these properties,” stated the minister.

He continued, emphasizing the government’s approach to dealing with unoccupied houses: “We will inquire about their intentions. If they wish to retain the houses unoccupied, the government will impose a triple ground rent, as opposed to the standard