Wike Issues New Two-Week Deadline for Abuja Landowners to Pay C-of-O Fees

DDM News

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced a renewed two-week deadline for landowners in Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja, to settle their outstanding Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) fees.

This directive was revealed in a statement issued on Friday by Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, cautioning that non-compliance would lead to the permanent revocation of their land allocations.

The warning comes after reports emerged that land allocations for several prominent figures, including the Muhammadu Buhari Trust Foundation, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, former governor Rochas Okorocha, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, were affected.

Clarifying the situation, Wike explained that the government’s primary objective was not to strip people of their land rights but to enforce payment compliance.

The statement further recalled that on October 5, 2024, a public list of 3,273 titleholders who had not paid their C-of-O fees was published.

These individuals were initially given a two-week period to settle their payments or risk losing their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) titles.

Out of the 3,273 listed, 2,511 complied with the payment directive, leaving 762 still in default.

On Thursday, the government published notices withdrawing the R-of-O titles of these defaulters.

However, following the publication, many affected individuals expressed a willingness to pay their dues, prompting the FCT administration to grant a two-week extension.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) learned from the Minister’s office that the new deadline requires the 762 defaulters, along with an additional 614 individuals who have partial payments outstanding, to clear their debts by January 3, 2025.

According to the statement, this measure is backed by Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978, which authorizes the government to revoke land titles in cases of non-compliance.

Wike stressed that no further extensions would be granted beyond January 3, 2025, and defaulters would face the final and irreversible revocation of their R-of-O titles.

This enforcement, he added, underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring compliance with land regulations and recovering overdue payments.

Landowners have been urged to take immediate action to settle their outstanding fees within the extended grace period to avoid permanent loss of their land allocations.

The government’s approach demonstrates a balance between enforcing regulations and providing opportunities for compliance, reflecting its intent to maintain transparency and fairness in managing Abuja’s land resources.

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