Wike gives Abuja land owners fresh two-week ultimatum to settle bills on C-of-O

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has issued a fresh two-week ultimatum to owners of 762 plots of land in Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja, to pay for their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) or face the final revocation of their allocations.

According to a statement on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the FCT Minister emphasized that the primary aim was not to strip people of their lands but to ensure they make the necessary payments to the government.

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The statement read,  “It should be recalled that on October 5, 2024, a list of 3,273 allottees/title holders who had not paid for their C-of-O was published. They were given two weeks to settle 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, a 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-week grace period has been given.

“Consequently, the 762 allottees, along with 614 others with outstanding payments on C-of-O, will have until January 3, 2025, to pay or have their R-of-O titles withdrawn pursuant to the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978.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 extensions, and the withdrawal of the R-of-O titles of defaulters will be final.”

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE