The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has given a fresh two-week ultimatum to the 762 land allottees in Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone, A10, Abuja, to pay for their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) or face final revocation of their land allocation.
Details of the Ultimatum
- Deadline: The two-week grace period will end on January 3, 2025.
- Previous Notice: This fresh ultimatum follows a previous notice issued on October 5, 2024, which listed 3,273 allottees/title holders with outstanding payments. Out of this number, 2,511 complied, leaving 762 still in default.
- Legal Basis: The revocation is pursuant to Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978, which allows for the withdrawal of Right of Occupancy titles for non-payment.
- Government’s Primary Aim: According to Wike, the main objective is to ensure payment, not to revoke lands, but to encourage compliance from defaulters.
Affected Parties
- Prominent Figures: The revocation affects prominent figures, including former President Muhammed Buhari, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, and other notable individuals and organisations in Maitama II, Abuja.
- Upcoming Revocations: Wike also hinted at potential revocation of lands belonging to the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Kingsley Chinda, former presidents of the Senate Iyorchia Ayu and Ameh Ebute, and the Chief Whip of the Senate Tahir Monguno for non-payment within the given timeframe.
Government’s Appeal
- Public Plea: This move comes after Wike made several appeals to residents of the FCT, particularly those in hybrid areas, urging them to settle their outstanding fees to avoid losing their lands.
This ultimatum underscores the government’s intention to enforce land use regulations strictly and recover outstanding payments to boost revenue collection for the FCTA.
