Wike
Wike issues fresh two-week ultimatum to owners of 762 Abuja plots
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a new two-week ultimatum to owners of 762 plots of land in Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja, to pay for their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) or face permanent revocation of their land allocations.
A statement on Friday by Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, disclosed this.
According to the statement, Wike emphasized that the government’s primary goal is not to strip people of their land but to ensure compliance with payment obligations.
The statement recalled that on October 5, 2024, a list of 3,273 allottees who had not paid for their C-of-O was published, giving them a two-week deadline to settle their dues or lose their Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O). Out of this number, 2,511 complied, leaving 762 defaulters.
A notice of withdrawal for the R-of-O titles of the 762 defaulters was published on Thursday. However, following appeals from many of those affected, the government has extended the payment deadline by two weeks, until January 3, 2025. Wike warned that no further extensions would be granted, and the revocation of R-of-O titles would become final after the deadline, in line with Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978.
This latest ultimatum follows the recent revocation of land allocations in Maitama II, Abuja, involving several high-profile individuals and organizations, including former President Muhammadu Buhari, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume. A total of 759 other prominent figures and organizations were affected by the action due to non-payment of C-of-O fees.
Wike also warned that lands belonging to other notable figures, including the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Kingsley Chinda, former Senate Presidents Iyorchia Ayu and Ameh Ebute, and Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno, could face revocation if outstanding fees are not paid within the two-week extension.
This decision follows months of appeals by the minister urging FCT residents, particularly those in high-value areas, to settle their outstanding fees or risk losing their land allocations.