The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a final two-week ultimatum to owners of 762 plots in Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja, to settle outstanding payments for their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) or face permanent revocation of their land titles.
In a statement released on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the minister emphasized that the government’s priority is not to strip individuals of their land but to ensure compliance with payment obligations.
“It should be recalled that on October 5, 2024, a list of 3,273 allottees who were yet to pay for their C-of-O was published, and they were given two weeks to clear their debts or lose their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) titles. Out of the total, 2,511 complied, leaving 762 in default,” the statement read.
A subsequent notice of withdrawal of R-of-O titles for the 762 defaulters was published on Thursday, prompting some of the affected individuals to offer immediate payment. To accommodate this, the FCT administration extended the payment deadline to January 3, 2025.
The statement added, “The 762 allottees and another 614 titleholders with partial payments on their C-of-O now have until January 3, 2025, to fulfill their financial obligations. Failure to do so will lead to the final withdrawal of their R-of-O titles, as provided under Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978. There will be no further extensions beyond this date.”
Prominent individuals and organizations are reportedly among the defaulters, including the Buhari Foundation, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume.
On Wednesday, the minister announced the revocation of 762 plots for non-payment of C-of-O fees and ordered 614 others to settle their balances or risk losing their R-of-O titles.
The move has drawn attention to Wike’s ongoing efforts to enforce financial compliance among landowners in the FCT. The minister has maintained that the initiative is part of broader reforms aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in land administration.
Observers note that this bold approach reflects Wike’s determination to address irregularities in land allocation and revenue collection, signaling a new era of governance in the FCT. As the January 3 deadline looms, all eyes will remain on the affected landowners to see if they meet the payment requirements or face the consequences of non-compliance.
