By Christopher Sunday, Abuja
voxnews.com.ng
In a bold enforcement operation, the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) has sealed the popular Ibro Hotel located in Zone 5, Abuja, over the hotel’s failure to pay ground rent for a staggering 26 years.
Officials from the FCTA’s Department of Development Control, accompanied by security personnel, stormed the premises earlier today and carried out the closure, citing consistent non-compliance with statutory land charges despite several notices and warnings.
The revocation of the hotel’s land title is part of a wider clampdown by the FCTA on property owners—both private and corporate—who have defaulted on ground rent payments across the Federal Capital Territory. Ibro Hotel, one of Abuja’s longest-standing hospitality businesses, is now the latest high-profile casualty in the government’s aggressive drive to enforce compliance and boost internally generated revenue.
Speaking to journalists during the exercise, an official of the FCTA who preferred not to be named said, “This is not a witch-hunt. It’s about accountability. No individual or business entity is above the law. Ground rent is a legal obligation, and a 26-year default cannot be ignored.”
Guests at the hotel were seen hurriedly checking out as staff scrambled to secure valuables and sensitive property. The scene attracted residents and passersby, many of whom expressed surprise that a prominent establishment like Ibro Hotel could allow such a debt to accumulate over the years.
A legal expert analyzing the situation noted, “This case demonstrates the seriousness with which the FCTA is now approaching revenue generation. The revocation of the property’s title is a legal action, and the consequences are significant. This may set a precedent for similar defaulters across the FCT.”
As at the time of this report, attempts to get a response from the hotel’s management have not yielded results. Meanwhile, FCTA officials insist that only full compliance with payment and legal procedures can reverse the revocation.
This development marks another chapter in the FCTA’s renewed effort to restore fiscal discipline and legal order within Abuja’s real estate and commercial sectors.
