The FCT Minister Wike said this in a statement on Thursday adding that the crackdown would also target property purchasers who had not registered their interests with the required Minister’s Consent or completed their Deeds of Assignment.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has announced that from November 26, it will begin enforcement actions against defaulters of Ground Rent, Land Use Change/Conversion fees, and outstanding Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) and Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills.
The FCT Minister Wike said this in a statement on Thursday adding that the crackdown would also target property purchasers who had not registered their interests with the required Minister’s Consent or completed their Deeds of Assignment.
He recalled that, following intervention by President Bola Tinubu, the Minister had earlier granted defaulters a 14-day grace period to pay outstanding ground rent, stating, “The 14-day grace expired on June 9, over five months ago.”
The statement added that notices previously published in national newspapers and online platforms warned defaulters about revised land-use clauses.
“The notices gave defaulters 30 days to pay violation fees of N5 million and other applicable charges for land use change or conversion,” he said.
He went on: “A final grace period of 14 days was granted for properties in Asokoro, Maitama, Garki, and Wuse districts, which will expire on Monday, Nov. 24.”
According to the statement, enforcement will commence from Wednesday, 26 November, “targeting all defaulters, including those who purchased properties without completing the required registration and consent procedures.”
Meanwhile the decision comes amid escalating controversy over land administration in the FCT.
Civil society groups have accused Minister Wike’s administration of “suspicious revocation of land allocations,” particularly involving prime green areas in Abuja.
Tensions recently reached a head during a confrontation between Wike and Lieutenant A. M. Yerima, a serving naval officer, over a disputed site in Gaduwa District.
SaharaReporters had reported that the clash occurred when soldiers allegedly refused Wike access to the land, provoking a heated exchange.
According to Wike’s aide, the plot in question was allocated in 2007 to Santos Estate Limited “for park and recreation,” before later being sold to private individuals, including former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo.
Leave a Reply