Mr Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Land, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), says the administration will take possession of properties built on 4,794 land titles revoked over unpaid ground rent in due course.
Nwankwoeze stated this in Abuja on Wednesday, after the FCT Executive Committee meeting, chaired by the minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the FCTA on Monday, announced Wike’s approval for the revocation of 4,794 land titles over unpaid ground rent for more than 10 years.
Mr Lere Olayinka Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the minister, said at a news conference that a total of 8,375 property owners owed N6.97 billion as ground rent.
Nwankwoeze said that so many people were affected, including government institutions, private organisations and private individuals.
He identified some of the affected organisations as the Nigerian Port Authority, Central Bank of Nigeria, Independent Electoral Commission, National Universities Commission and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd.
Others are Corn Oil, Borno Government, Niger Delta Development Commission, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Environment. Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company among others.
According to him, the properties of the 4,794 revoked titles have reverted to the FCTA “and in due course, the administration will take possession of them.”
He, however, said there might be a window for the affected land title owners to appeal to the minister for reconsideration.
“Anybody or any organisation, whose title is revoked by the minister has a window to approach the minister or write to him, appealing for reinstatement of such title.
“The minister will look at it. If he wishes to reinstate the titles, he will; if there are conditions that will be attached to such reinstatement, if he considers it fit, he will.
“Then, if he decides not to reinstate, so be it, because warnings have been sent out in the past and people refuse to comply,” he said.
Nwankwoeze further said that appealing for reinstatement was the best thing for the affected title holders to do and advised them against resorting to blackmail.
According to him, most of the revoked titles are located in the 10 oldest districts in Phase I, fully serviced with the engineering infrastructure and other services.
“So, if the government has fulfilled its part of the obligation by providing those facilities and amenities, you, a land title holder, is not doing your own part of the bargain, it will be difficult for the city to be managed.
“So, we implore everyone who has not paid the ground rent to do so, including land title holders in Phase II comprised of Gudu, Utako, Mabushi, Jabi, Daki-biyu, Katampe, Katampe Extension and Kado Districts among others.”
