Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Nyesom Wike Tuesday said the administration’s decision to revoke some lands for non-payment of ground rents is not because the administration is interested in re-acquiring those lands, but because it needs defaulters to pay so the administration would have funds for more infrastructural development.
He stated that the process of revocation had been on before now, adding that he was only implementing what he met on ground.
The minister stated when he inspected some ongoing projects including the 10-lane 15-kilometre Apo-Wasa Road, the Court of Appeal Complex in Jabi District and the Saburi – Dei Dei Road.
While speaking on reports that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, whose name was published among those owing ground rents, had denied owing the administration, the minister said those who have paid and can produce their receipts will not be affected.
He said the two-week grace granted defaulters would not be extended when it elapses on January 3, 2025.
“As far as I am concerned, this was done before we came on board and what the Land Department and the AGIS did was to generate from the system. First of all, if you have paid, it means that you have collected your Certificate of Occupancy C of O.
“Right of Occupancy (R of O) is like an allocation of land where you go and pay for your C of O. So, when you don’t have the C of O, it means that you have not paid. I don’t want to join issues with the speaker or whatever, but the point is that if there are people who have paid, like some people say they have paid and they have attached their receipts to show that they have paid, in such cases, yes, there are many. As to whether there will be another grace, I don’t think we will do that.”
