The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning to owners of 762 plots of land in Maitama II District, Abuja, demanding that they pay for their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) within two weeks or face final revocation of their land allocations. This move is part of the ongoing effort by the FCTA to ensure compliance with land payment obligations. The affected landowners were among a group of 3,273 allottees who had previously been given until October 2024 to settle their dues. While the majority complied, 762 failed to pay, and Wike has now set a firm deadline of January 3, 2025.
According to Lere Olayinka, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, the government’s primary objective is to collect the payments for the land titles. “The government has offered a final two-week grace period for these allottees to make payment,” Olayinka explained, adding that failure to comply would result in the withdrawal of their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) titles, in line with the Land Use Act of 1978.
The directive has sent ripples through the FCT, with some high-profile landowners, including Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and other notable Nigerians, among the defaulters. In response, Speaker Abbas has denied claims that he owes any outstanding payments, stating that he has already settled his dues for the land allocated to him in the FCT in October.
With this move, Wike’s administration is signaling a clear intent to enforce accountability in land allocations in the FCT, ensuring that those who benefit from these valuable plots of land uphold their financial responsibilities. As the clock ticks towards the January 3 deadline, all eyes are on whether these landowners will meet the minister’s demand or face the consequences of having their titles revoked.
