The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has taken decisive action by revoking land allocations of several high-profile figures, including the governors of Bayelsa and Imo States, due to non-payment of Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) fees. This bold move shows the minister’s determination to enforce compliance with land administration policies in Abuja.
Among those affected are Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Other notable figures on the list include former Enugu State Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, and Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) Chairperson, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
According to Lere Olayinka, the minister’s media aide, a total of 568 plots in Maitama II, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja, were affected. The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had previously issued an ultimatum in October 2024, giving 3,273 allottees a two-week deadline to pay their outstanding fees or risk losing their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O). While 2,511 allottees complied, 762 defaulted, prompting the FCTA to grant an additional two-week grace period. Despite this, only 194 more payments were made by January 15, 2025, leaving 568 defaulters.
Read Also: Nigeria ranked World’s 5th largest economy by 2075
The FCTA’s formal notice of revocation, issued under Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978, emphasized that the affected individuals had violated the terms of their land grants by failing to settle their C-of-O bills. The notice stated:
“The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) wishes to inform the allottee(s)/title holder(s) of plot(s) of land in Maitama II, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja, who have failed to make payment for their Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills after the expiration of the grace period granted by the Honourable Minister, Federal Capital Territory, that their Right of Occupancy to the land/property has been withdrawn, pursuant to the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978 for contravention of the terms of grant which obligated the title/interest holders to settle all bills.”
The FCTA clarified that the revocation does not affect individuals who settled their payments by the January 15 deadline.
This sweeping action by Minister Wike sends a strong message about the FCTA’s commitment to accountability and adherence to land administration laws. As the nation watches closely, this development highlights a significant shift in enforcing compliance and maintaining order in Abuja’s urban planning framework.
