The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has issued a stern warning to 3,273 allottees, including notable Nigerians and corporate entities, to settle their outstanding payments for Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) within two weeks or risk having their plots revoked.
The affected properties are situated in the Maitama District of Abuja, and the FCTA highlighted infrastructural development in the area as a key reason for enforcing the payment.
According to the FCTA, any failure to clear outstanding land bills, rents, fees, and charges within the stipulated period will result in the withdrawal of Rights of Occupancy and reallocation of the lands.
This action is part of a broader effort to address corruption, land speculation, and administrative delays that have plagued land administration in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In August, the FCTA had granted a four-month grace period for all landholders to settle their dues or face revocation under the Land Use Act. Muhammad Sule, the FCTA’s director of information and communication, expressed concerns over the widespread non-payment, which has hindered funding for critical infrastructure projects in Abuja. Similarly, Ekarikpong Ukpanah, director of land administration, stressed that non-payment is a violation of the Land Use Act and the terms of land grants.
Prominent figures named in the list of defaulters include Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; former Senate President Bukola Saraki; former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha; and children of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Yusuf and Zahra Buhari.
