Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has imposed a N5 million fine on allottees and land titleholders who have violated the Land Use Act.
The violators are required to pay the fine within 30 days.
The minister also assented to a 7.5% charge on the Assessed Capital Value of properties converted without the knowledge or express permission of the FCT Administration, payable within 30 days.
Wike gave the approval after receiving the report of the committee set up to address the abuse of the Land Use Act in the FCT, in his office on Tuesday, September 2.
Persecondnews reports that the minister had inaugurated the committees on August 8, describing the issue of land abuse as “very important” in streamlining the activities of the FCT Administration on emerging land matters.
Submitting the report, Muktar Galadima, Chairman of the Land Use and Purposes Clause Committee and Director of Development Control, said the committee found that many properties on Ademola Adetokunbo Street, Aminu Kano Crescent, Yakubu Gowon Street, and Gana Street, among others, had been converted to residential, commercial, or mixed usage, contravening the original agreements.
He added that the total capital value of the said properties amounted to N1 billion, while recommending various sanctions on the defaulting title holders, including sealing of property, removal of buildings and structures, revocation and withdrawal of titles, if they failed to pay the fines.
“The Committee hereby recommends as follows: That, allottees/title holders of land and properties affected by the land use change/conversion, pay within 30 days from the date of conveyance of approval, the Land Use Conversion fee of 7.5% of the assessed Capital Value of the properties as contained in the Schedule/Valuation Report Sheet.
“That, allottees/title holders of the land and properties affected by the land use change/conversion, in addition to payment of Land Use Conversion fee, pay statutory Right of Occupancy bills applicable for the new land use/purpose clause and as charged for the District;
“That, where illegal/unapproved extension, merger and subdivision has been established, the allottee/title holder of the property… pay, within 30 days from the date of conveyance of approval, extension/merger/subdivision fee of the extant 2.0% of the assessed Capital Value of the properties as contained in the Schedule/Valuation Report Sheet,” Galadima said.
The minister, in his address, commended the committees for their work, stating that no defaulters would be allowed to go scot-free, as the administration was interested in raising money to carry out projects.
“I am not going to leave anybody to go free. We are looking for money to carry on projects. If you fall into our trap, it is your business.
“Or if you want us to take back our title, which we are not interested in taking back. We are trying to raise money for the FCT. But if you do not want, we will take back your title, we sell it, we will still raise money. You have to pay the penalty and pay for the conversion; they are two different things.
“I am aware that certain areas are designated for residential, and certain areas are designated for commercial. But people believing that they can do anything without approval from the government, some have changed residential to commercial, some have changed commercial to residential, and some have changed for all kinds of mixed uses. If you do not sanction them, it will continue to be so,” Wike said.
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