The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has issued a stern warning to prominent Nigerians and corporate organizations, threatening to revoke the Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) for their plots of land if they fail to settle outstanding payments within two weeks.
This ultimatum was conveyed in a public notice released on Friday, October 4, 2024, titled ‘Demand notice for payment of Right of Occupancy bills for issuance of Certificates of Occupancy’.
It affects 3,273 allottees in Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja, including several high-profile individuals and organizations.
The notice lists notable figures such as the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, and Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, among others.
Former public officeholders like ex-President of the Senate Bukola Saraki and ex-Speaker Yakubu Dogara are also named, along with former governors from across the country.
The FCTA explained that it is carrying out infrastructural development in Maitama II District, which has necessitated the collection of outstanding land fees.
The notice made it clear that failure to pay within the stipulated two weeks would lead to the withdrawal of the Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O) and potential reallocation of the land.
“The Federal Capital Territory Administration, through the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), is executing infrastructural projects in Maitama II. All allottees who have not settled their bills for the Certificates of Occupancy are advised to pay in full within two weeks. Failure to comply will result in the revocation of Rights of Occupancy by the Honourable Minister of the FCT,” the notice warned.
This is part of a broader effort to reform land administration in the FCT, which has been plagued by corruption, speculation, and inefficiencies.
In August, the FCTA gave a four-month grace period for landholders to settle their fees or face revocation of their titles under the Land Use Act.
The FCTA’s Director of Information and Communication, Muhammad Sule, highlighted that many landholders’ failure to settle their fees has hampered the authority’s ability to fund essential infrastructure projects.
The Director of the Land Administration Department, Ekarikpong Ukpanah, echoed these concerns, stressing that non-payment violated the terms of land grants and contributed to rampant land speculation, delaying real estate and infrastructure development.
The FCTA’s reforms are led by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, who has made it clear that these changes will likely face resistance from wealthy individuals and corporations accustomed to benefiting from the disorderly land administration system.
However, Wike insists the reforms are essential for public welfare and the long-term development of the FCT.During a meeting with estate developers in November 2023, Wike announced a fixed cost of N₦5 million for obtaining a C-of-O, with a four-month window for payment. He also pledged to end the practice of issuing multiple allocations of the same plot, which had been a source of widespread fraud.
In a further bid to curb corruption, Wike revealed plans to link National Identification Numbers (NIN) to C-of-O applications, ensuring that only genuine applicants receive legal documentation.
The FCTA’s reforms also include the formation of a task force to oversee the issuance of C-of-Os for housing estates and to recover unpaid land use fees.
According to Wike, these measures aim to ensure that all housing units in the FCT are legally documented, offering security for investors and developers while eliminating loopholes that have allowed fraudulent land practices to flourish.
While acknowledging that some of these decisions might anger those who have benefited from the chaotic land system, Wike maintains that the reforms are in the public’s best interest. “The rich will resist some of our reforms, but anything that benefits the people must be done,” he said.
The FCTA’s push for accountability and transparency in land administration aims to ensure the efficient development of the capital’s infrastructure and prevent it from lagging behind in growth and modernization.
