By Sarah NEGEDU
Owners of the 762 plots of land in Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone, A10, Abuja, have been given an extra two-week ultimatum to pay for their Certificates of Occupancy, C-of-O, or risk final revocation of their allocations.
Recall that The Abuja Inquirer had yesterday reported that allocations belonging to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and former Chief of Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, were among the 762 plots revoked by the FCT administration due to nonpayment for their C-of-O.
Other prominent personalities affected by the revocation order included the Secretary to the Government of Federation, George Akume, former Governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Ben Ayade of Cross River, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, Shaaba Lafiagi of Kwara, Ahmad Sani of Zamfara and Kabiru Gaya of Kano among defaulters.
However, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Friday approved a fresh 2 weeks extension for the affected allottees to redeem their plots.
Wike, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, stressed that the primary interest was not for people to lose their lands, but to get them to make necessary payments to the government.
The statement read, “It should be recalled that on October 5, 2024, list of 3,273 allottees/title holders that were yet to pay for their C-of-O were published. They were offered two weeks to pay their bills or lose their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) titles. Out of the 3,273, a total of 2,511 complied, leaving 762.
“Yesterday, notice of withdrawal of the R-of-O titles of the 762 defaulters was published.
“Since then, many of the affected allottees have offered to pay, and since the primary aim of the government is to ensure payment, a two weeks grace has been given.
“Consequently, the 762 allottees and the 614 others with outstanding payment on C-of-O will have till January 3, 2025 to pay, or have their R-of-O titles withdrawn, pursuant to the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978.
“After January 3, 2025, there will be no further extension and withdrawal of the R-of-O titles of defaulters will be final.”
