The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has issued a new two-week ultimatum to owners of the 762 plots of land in Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja, demanding payment for their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O).
Failure to comply will result in the final revocation of their allocations.
This announcement was made on Friday in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka.
Wike emphasized that the goal was not to see people lose their land, but to ensure they make the necessary payments to the government.
“It should be recalled that on October 5, 2024, list of 3,273 allottees/title holders that were yet to pay for their C-of-O were published. They were offered two weeks to pay their bills or lose their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) titles. Out of the 3,273, a total of 2,511 complied, leaving 762,” the statement read.
“Yesterday, a notice of withdrawal of the R-of-O titles of the 762 defaulters was published. Since then, many of the affected allottees have offered to pay, and since the primary aim of the government is to ensure payment, a two-week grace has been given.
“Consequently, the 762 allottees and the 614 others with outstanding payment on C-of-O will have till January 3, 2025, to pay, or have their R-of-O titles withdrawn, pursuant to the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978.
“After January 3, 2025, no further extension and withdrawal of the R-of-O titles of defaulters will be final.”
This new ultimatum follows a day after Wike annulled land allocations previously granted to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume.
In addition, 759 other prominent individuals and organizations in Maitama II, Abuja, were impacted by the revocation due to non-payment of the Certificate of Occupancy fees.
The minister also issued a warning to revoke lands belonging to several key figures, including Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Kingsley Chinda, former Senate Presidents Iyorchia Ayu and Ameh Ebute, Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno, and 610 others, unless outstanding fees owed to the FCTA for their certificates of occupancy are settled within two weeks.
This action by the minister comes months after he repeatedly urged residents of the Federal Capital Territory, especially those in mixed-use areas, to clear their outstanding fees to avoid land revocation.
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