Two months after revoking about 566 land allocations, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has approved the revocation of another 4,794 land titles in the territory.
The Minister’s decision was prompted by the non-payment of ground rent, which has accumulated to an estimated N6.9 billion over the past 40 years.
This significant debt suggests a longstanding issue with payment obligations.
Wike announced this in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, on Monday, following a press briefing by Mr. Chijioke Nwanwkoeze, the ministry’s Director of Lands.
A total of 8,375 property owners in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape, have defaulted on ground rent payments for the past 43 years.
He further said that the property owners owed a total of N6.9 billion, while 4,794 land titles are in default of ground rent payment for 10 years and above.
Wike said the revocation of land titles was preceded by numerous publications and announcements on broadcast media by the FCT Administration, starting in 2023, adding that payment of ground rents was provided by extant laws.
The statement reads: “It should be noted that the FCTA made numerous publications in national newspapers and announcements on broadcast media since 2023, calling on defaulters to pay up all outstanding bills and ground rents. All these yielded little response, as several allottees failed to pay.
“It is important to state that payment of ground rent on landed properties in the FCT is founded on extant legislation. It is clearly stipulated in the terms and conditions of the grant of Right of Occupancy, and it is due for payment on the first day of January, each year, without demand.
“Consequently, a list of land titles in default of payment of ground rent has been compiled in the ten oldest districts of Phase 1 of the Federal Capital City (FCC). They are; Central Area District (Cadastral Zone A00), Garki I (Cadastral Zone A01), Wuse I (Cadastral Zone A02), Garki II (Cadastral Zone A03), Asokoro (Cadastral Zone A04), Maitama (Cadastral Zone A05), Maitama (Cadastral Zone A06), Wuse II (Cadastral Zone A07), Wuse II (Cadastral Zone A08) and Guzape (Cadastral Zone A09).
“As of the end of 2024 and up till today, a total of N6,967,980,119 is owed as ground rent by 8,375 property owners. In other words, a total of 8,375 property owners have not paid ground rent up to last year, 2024.
“A total of 4,794 land titles are in default of ground rent payment for 10 years and above. Meaning that in the listed districts, 4,794 property owners have not paid ground rent in the last 10 years. This is in contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Rights of Occupancy, in line with the provisions of Section 28, Subsections 5(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act.”
The minister stated that land titles of individuals with 10 or more years of unpaid payments have been immediately revoked, while those with less than 10 years of outstanding payments have a 21-day grace period to settle their debts, after which their titles will also be revoked.
The statement added: “Consequently, the titles of the properties in default of payment of Ground Rent for 10 years and above have been revoked forthwith. A grace of 21 Days is also given to title holders that are in default of payment of ground rent for between one and ten years, after which the affected titles will be revoked.”
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