FCTA gives landowners two-week ultimatum to pay balance of C-of-O or lose properties
In a final notice on Thursday, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has given allotees and title owners a two-week ultimatum to clear their outstanding balance for their Certificate of Occupancy, C-of-O, or have their Right of Occupancy revoked.
In the notice, the FCTA warned that owners of the properties located in the popular Maitama area of the nation’s capital should as a matter of urgency make payments for their outstanding Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) regardless of who owns them.
The notice reads: “The Federal Capital Territory Administration hereby informs the general public, particularly allotee (s)/title holder (s) of land in the Maitama 1 District of the FCT who have since made payment of their outstanding Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills to as a matter of urgency pay the balance of their bills within two weeks from the date of this publication or have their Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O) titles withdrawn.”
Earlier, for failing to pay their Certificate of Occupancy, C-of-O, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ordered the immediate revocation of 762 plots of land owned by top politicians and corporate organizations.
Recall that the minister had in August 2023 announced the revocation of certificate of occupancy of 165 plots in Abuja. The minister blamed the revocation on the failure of the owners to develop them.
Wike had said there is no going back regardless of who is involved as the aim was to introduce an effective reform in the FCT for public good.
“When we make the right decision, some people will be happy, and some will not. The rich will kick against some of our decisions, but anything that will help our people must be done,” he said.
Individual land owners are expected to obtain a C-of-O at N5 million, and they will be given the grace of four months to make their payments.
Section 28 of the Land Use Act backing the FCTA notice, stipulates how landed properties vested in individuals can be revoked by authorities. Subsection Five (5) empowers state governors (the Minister of the FCT in the case of Abuja) to revoke a statutory right of occupancy on the ground of-
(a) a breach of any of the provisions which a certificate of occupancy is by section 10 of this Act deemed to contain;
(b) a breach of any term contained in the certificate of occupancy or in any special contract made under section 8 of this Act.
