President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has halted the takeover of 4,794 revoked lands in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for non-payment of Ground Rent for prolonged years, granting a 14-day grace period for them to settle their outstanding obligations and regularise their documents.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday started sealing off the 4,794 property.
Some of them included Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretariat, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Others are CONOIL PLC, Borno State Government, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), National university commission (NUC), M.R.S Investment Company Limited (owners of MRS Petrol Stations) and Kaduna State Government.
The Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, University of Calabar, Nigerian Postal Service and Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) are also affected.
This comes after FCT Minister Nyesom Wike approved the revocation of 4,794 land titles for non-payment of ground rent for more than 40 years in March and gave a series of extensions.
The decision drew widespread criticism with opponents calling it a tactic to intimidate the opposition.
The President intervened, instructing Wike to suspend the revocation and providing a 14-day extension.
This was contained in a statement released by Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
For property in the Central Area, Olayinka said that the sum of N5 million would be paid by the defaulters as penalty, in addition to the Ground Rent owed.
Those in Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, and Guzape Districts will pay the sum of N3 million as penalty, in addition to the Ground Rent owed.
Defaulters in Wuse I, Garki I and Garki II will pay N2 million as penalty in addition to the Ground Rent owed.
Also, all those who purchased property from other people, but have yet to register their interests by obtaining the mandatory Minister’s Consent and registering their Deeds of Assignment now have 14 days (TWO WEEKS) to do so at the FCT Department of Land Administration.
The statement also noted that Wike further granted a 14 days (TWO WEEKS) grace period to all property holders in the FCT to pay up their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O)/Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills, or risk revocation of those titles.
It added that going forward, the Minister has advised property owners in the FCT to ensure that they pay all necessary bills and charges on their property as and when due, so as to enable the government to continue to carry out necessary development projects for the benefit of the people
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