The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has issued a new two-week ultimatum to owners of 762 plots of land in Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja. They must pay for their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) or face the final revocation of their land allocations.
This directive was announced in a statement on Friday by Lere Olayinka, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media.
According to Olayinka, Wike emphasised that the government’s primary intention is not to dispossess people of their land but to ensure compliance with payments owed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
“It should be recalled that on 5 October 2024, a list of 3,273 allottees yet to pay for their C-of-O was published. They were given two weeks to make payments or risk losing their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) titles. Out of these, 2,511 complied, leaving 762 defaulters,” the statement explained.
On Thursday, a notice of withdrawal of R-of-O titles for the remaining defaulters was published. In response, many affected allottees offered to pay, prompting the minister to grant a two-week grace period.
“Consequently, the 762 allottees and an additional 614 with outstanding payments on their C-of-O now have until 3 January 2025 to settle their dues. Failure to comply will result in the irrevocable withdrawal of their R-of-O titles, as stipulated by Section 28 of the Land Use Act 1978,” the statement added.
This ultimatum follows Wike’s recent revocation of lands belonging to notable figures, including former President Muhammadu Buhari, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, due to non-payment of C-of-O fees.
Also affected were 759 other prominent individuals and organisations in Maitama II, Abuja. The minister further threatened to revoke lands belonging to other key figures, including Kingsley Chinda, Iyorchia Ayu, Ameh Ebute, and Tahir Monguno, if their outstanding fees remain unpaid within two weeks.
The minister’s firm stance comes after repeated appeals to residents of the FCT, especially those in prime areas, to clear their debts to the FCTA or face the consequences.