Nyesom Wike gives Abuja landowners fresh ultimatum to settle bills or risk revocation

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom WIke, has given another two-week ultimatum to owners of the 762 plots of land in Maitama to pay for their certificates of occupancy (C-of-O) or risk final revocation.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Thursday, December 19, published a public notice, highlighting the names of individuals and companies whose land titles have been revoked. The FCTA said the affected title owners failed to pay for their C-of-O for the revoked 769 plots of land.

The revocation came two weeks after the FCTA published a list of alleged land title debtors. Defaulters were initially given two weeks from November 26 to pay for their C-of-O.

In a statement on Friday, Wike’s spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, said the affected landowners have started making payments since the public notice was published on Thursday,, December 19.

Olayinka said after the January 3, 2025, deadline, defaulters would have their land titles finally revoked

“It should be recalled that on October 5, 2024, a list of 3,273 allottees/title holders that were yet to pay for their C-of-O was published,” the statement reads.

They were offered two weeks to pay their bills or lose their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) titles. Out of the 3,273, a total of 2,511 complied, leaving 762.

Yesterday, a notice of withdrawal of the R-of-O titles of the 762 defaulters was published. Since then, many of the affected allottees have offered to pay, and since the primary aim of the government is to ensure payment, a two-week grace has been given.

Consequently, the 762 allottees and the 614 others with outstanding payment on C-of-O will have till January 3, 2025, to pay, or have their R-of-O titles withdrawn, pursuant to the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978.

After January 3, 2025, there will be no further extension and withdrawal of the R-of-O titles of defaulters will be final.”