The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a warning to landlords in Abuja who have not paid their ground rent. Wike has indicated that their Rights of Occupancy may be revoked if they do not meet their payment obligations. He clarified that there will be consequences for those who did not make payments by the deadline set by the FCT Administration in September, contrary to what some may believe. Wike made this statement when he received the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Tuesday in Abuja.
The FCTA had recently requested that allottees of land within Abuja fulfill their obligations by paying their ground rents in advance without demand from January 1 of each year, as stipulated in their Certificate of Occupancy (C of O). The FCTA warned that failure to comply with any or all of the terms stated in the Rights of Occupancy would result in the revocation of the title. The administration advised all allottees, property owners, and beneficiaries of the sale of Federal Government Houses in the FCT to settle their outstanding ground rents or risk losing their titles.
The minister assured the NUJ leadership that he is determined to follow through on his promises by revoking plots of defaulters at the end of the deadline given by the FCTA. Wike stated that the law has always been in place, but the problem has been applying it. Both he and the Minister of State have the capacity and political will to do what is right.
Wike urged defaulters to pay their ground rents and warned that the law will be applied when the final notice is given. He emphasized that the FCTA has been able to save significant Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) since the removal of the Administration from the Treasury Single Account. He added that the era of abandoned projects in the FCT is over.
Wike explained that some of the tough decisions being taken by the FCTA are for the good of all in the long run, and that the government would step on toes in the efforts to right the wrongs in the FCT. He pledged continued support to the media as critical partners in the development space.