Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked the land allocations of the governor of Bayelsa State, Duoye Diri and that of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma for not meeting up with the dead line fixed for the settling of their Certificate of Occupancy bills.
The duo are among the 568 individuals in Maitama II, Abuja, who were to have the issues with their said lands resolved but couldn’t meet up with the stipulated dead line.
This was disclosed on Thursday by Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka.
Others affected by the Wike’s daring sledgehammer include FCT, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party; Samuel Anyanwu, former Governor of Enugu State; Chimaroke Nnamani, Senate Minority Leader; Abba Moro, and a lawmaker representing Obokon/Oriade Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Oluwole Oke.
Olayinka said that in a notice issued by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, the affected landowners were accused of failing to comply with payment obligations after a grace period granted by the minister expired.
According to the FCTA, those who settled their C-of-O bills on or before January 15, 2025, are exempted from the revocation.
“The Federal Capital Territory Administration wishes to inform allottees of plots in Maitama II, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja, who failed to make payments for their Certificate of Occupancy bills within the stipulated grace period, that their Right of Occupancy has been revoked.
“This action is pursuant to Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978, which allows for the withdrawal of land rights in cases of contravention of grant terms, including the obligation to settle bills”, the notice read.
The FCTA noted that landowners who had completed their payments on or before the January 15 deadline were not affected.
The development follows an October 5, 2024, publication by the FCTA, which listed 3,273 title holders in Maitama II who had yet to pay their C-of-O bills.
Following the notice, 2,511 individuals complied, while 762 defaulted.
In December 2024, Wike issued a two-week ultimatum to the 762 defaulters, warning them to pay their outstanding bills or face final revocation.