On Friday, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Ahmed Dangiwa, announced plans to enhance revenue collections by ensuring that all occupiers of Federal Government assets pay their ground rent.
This initiative aims to improve facilities across the nation.
In a recent session on land administration, Dangiwa highlighted the initiative’s importance after assessing sites like Banana Island.
He stated that owners of federal lands in Lagos must pay ground rent to aid the ministry’s revenue optimization strategy.
According to him, the Federal Government remains committed to renovating, safeguarding, and optimizing the value of its assets nationwide.
Also, he said to accomplish this goal, it will strictly enforce compliance with land and estates administration laws.
“Under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Ministry of Housing will restore order in federal land management.
“The Ministry is committed to ensuring strict adherence to legal provisions, thereby maintaining order in asset control and administration.” Dangiwa stated.
He directed estate associations to operate within designated limits and collect facility management fees per agreements with occupants.
The Minister cautioned that occupants must, therefore, allocate agreed fees for estate maintenance, specifically for electricity and roads.
“These facility management fees, typically charged by estates for upkeep, should not extend to the collection of ground rent from residents.
“Ground rent is designated for the Federal Government.If estates collect fees on our behalf, they must remit them in full.
Failing this, we will engage our staff or consultants to ensure compliance,” he explained.
Dangiwa revealed that the ministry and Lagos State government will form a joint committee to collaboratively resolve land disputes.
The committee will tackle longstanding land issues and promote a coordinated approach to land administration across the state.
The Minister vowed to expedite the renovation and completion of federal assets and housing projects due to rising concerns.
While addressing Lagos shoreline irregularities, Dangiwa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s control over shoreline titles and regulations.
Shoreline Regulations
He cautioned developers about legal compliance, emphasizing that non-compliance would lead to serious sanctions.
“To curb these practices, the ministry gave developers one month to regularize their shorefront property papers.
Failure to comply would result in revocation and demolition,” he warned.
Dangiwa stated that haphazard shoreline developments, where individuals built without clearance, will be strictly curtailed and regulated.
