KEY POINTS

• In Maitama II, 762 plot owners are given till January 3, 2025 to pay for C-of-O.
• Defaulters are faced with permanent revocation of land allocations under the Land Use Act.
• But, Wike reiterates that the government’s primary target is to enforce compliance, and not revoke titles.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has directed owners of 762 plots in Maitama II District, Abuja, to refund payments of certificated of occupancy fees with a two week ultimatum. It comes after a previous October 2024 deadline was paid off with partial compliance.

Government’s aim is not to revoke land titles, but to compel compliance with payment obligations, said a statement issued in Abuja by Lere Olayinka, the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media.

In October 5, 2024, it published a list of 3,273 title holders who had not paid for their C-of-O. According to the statement, out of these, 2,511 people complied and 762 people defaulted,” read the statement.

Defaulters must conform by January 3, 2025.

The FCT Minister later extended the payment deadline in response to appeals from landowners, to January 3, 2025. But Wike stressed that no more extensions would be given.

According to Section 28 of Land Use Act 1978, failure to pay before the deadline attracts the withdrawal of Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) Title which becomes final.

It also included a final ultimatum to 614 other title holders with unpaid C-of-O. And Wike appealed to all, who have defaulted, to avail themselves of this final grace to avoid losing their allocations.