The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has given a fresh two-week ultimatum to the owners of 762 plots of land in the Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja. The landowners are required to pay for their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) or face final revocation of their allocations.
This announcement was made public on Friday through a statement issued by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to Wike. The statement emphasized that while the government’s goal was not to seize lands from the allottees, it aimed to ensure that necessary payments for the C-of-O were made.
The FCT Minister explained that, on October 5, 2024, a list of 3,273 allottees who had not paid for their C-of-O was published, and they were given a two-week deadline to settle their fees. Of the total, 2,511 complied, leaving 762 defaulters. Subsequently, a notice for the withdrawal of their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) titles was published. Since then, many of the affected landowners have expressed willingness to make payments. As a result, Wike extended a two-week grace period, urging them to pay the outstanding fees by January 3, 2025, to avoid further action.
“After January 3, 2025, no further extension will be granted, and the withdrawal of the R-of-O titles will be final,” the statement read, citing Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978.
This fresh ultimatum comes just one day after Wike revoked land allocations belonging to prominent figures, including former President Muhammadu Buhari, Tajudeen Abbas (Speaker of the House of Representatives), and George Akume (Secretary to the Government of the Federation), along with 759 others in the Maitama II District for failing to pay for their C-of-O.
Wike also threatened to revoke lands belonging to other influential figures, including Kingsley Chinda (Minority Leader of the House of Representatives), Iyorchia Ayu (former President of the Senate), Ameh Ebute (former President of the Senate), and Tahir Monguno (Chief Whip of the Senate), as well as 610 others who have yet to pay outstanding fees.
This move follows months of pleas by Wike to residents of the FCT, particularly those in hybrid areas of the capital, to settle overdue fees owed to the FCTA to avoid land revocation.
