The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, says he has revoked lands allocated to several high-profile people including governors and ministers for alleged non-payment of statutory fees particularly Certificate of Occupancy (CofO).
Among those affected are Imo Gov. Hope Uzodimma, Bayelsa Gov. Douye Diri, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen.
In a statement on Thursday, the minister’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, said the withdrawal of the R-of-O (Right of Occupancy) for 568 allottees followed the expiration of a two-week grace to pay for their C-of-O bills.
Out of the initial 3,273 allottees given a two-week deadline in October 2024 to settle their bills, 568 failed to pay up, even after an extended period that expired on January 15.
Landowners who completed their payments by the January 15 deadline were not affected by the revocation, Olayinka said.
Also affected are the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Ibrahim Hadejia; former governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, Senate Leader; Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate Minority Leader; Abba Moro, Minister of State for Labour and Employment; Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Industry Trade and Investment; John Eno.
Other notable individuals whose allocations were revoked are the Chairperson/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; late Sports Minister Bala Kaoje; and Mrs. Regina Akume, wife of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume.
Persecondnews recalls that in October 2024, the FCTA published a list of 3,273 titleholders in Maitama II with outstanding C-of-O bills.
Following the notice, 2,511 individuals paid their bills, while 762 defaulted, prompting a two-week ultimatum from Minister Nyesom Wike in December 2024.
Wike warned the defaulters to settle their outstanding bills within the stipulated period or face final revocation.
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