By Nafisat Makinde
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has granted a 14-day grace period to property owners in the FCT to pay their outstanding ground rents and associated penalties following the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This move comes after the FCTA commenced enforcement on 4,794 properties revoked for non-payment of ground rent, spanning 10 to 43 years.
The Director of Land Administration, Mr. Chijioke Nwankwoeze, announced that defaulters will pay penalties ranging from N2 million to N5 million, depending on the location. “For properties in the Central Area, the sum of N5 million will be paid by the defaulters as penalty, in addition to the Ground Rent owed,” he said. Properties in Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II, and Guzape Districts will attract a N3 million penalty, while those in Wuse I, Garki I, and Garki II will pay N2 million.
The FCTA has also called on property owners who purchased properties from others but haven’t registered their interests to obtain the mandatory Minister’s Consent and register their Deeds of Assignment within the 14-day period. Additionally, property holders have been granted a 14-day grace period to pay their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O)/Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills, or risk revocation of their titles. The Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, has advised property owners in the FCT to ensure that they pay all necessary bills and charges on their properties as at when due, to enable the government to continue to carry out essential developmental projects for the benefit of the people.
The enforcement exercise affected properties owned by government institutions, corporate organizations, and individuals, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Access Bank Plc, and Total Petrol station. The Director of Land Administration explained that the property at Wuse Zone 5 Wadata Plaza, while occupied by the PDP, actually belongs to Senator Samaila Mamman Kurfi, who owes 28 years of unpaid ground rent. The FCTA only deals with the property owner, not the occupant, and had duly served revocation notices to Senator Kurfi.
The Director of Land Administration emphasized that the FCTA keeps meticulous records of payments and challenged any claims of payment without corresponding receipts from the Lands Department. “We keep every record. When you pay your ground rent, you will have to be issued with a receipt of payment,” he said. Regarding the possibility of reversing the revocations upon payment of outstanding ground rents, the Director stated that as of now, the FCTA has taken physical possession of the properties, and any further decisions would be at the discretion of the FCT Minister. “We have just taken physical possession of the property. Any other thing that will happen will have to be determined in due course. It will be up to them to approach the Hon. Minister of the FCT. If they approach him and he gives them any consideration, that’s it. The Minister will decide that”.
