FCT Minister Wike Denies Special Interest In Revoked Lands, Insists On Payment Of Ground Rents

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike has dismissed claims of having special interest in some choice plots, saying his decision to revoke some lands for non-payment of ground rents is not because the Administration is interested in re-acquiring those lands, but because it needs defaulters to pay up so that the Administration can have funds for more infrastructural development.

Noting that the process of revocation had been on for years, Wike said he was only implementing what he met on the ground.

The minister spoke on Tuesday when he inspected some ongoing projects like the 10-lane 15-kilometre Apo-Wasa road, the Court of Appeal Complex in Jabi District and the Saburi – Dei Dei road.

Pressed to speak on reports that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas whose name was published among those owing ground rents, had denied owing the Administration, the minister said those who have paid and can produce their receipts will not be affected.

He said the two-week grace granted to defaulters would not be extended again when it elapses on January 3, 2025.

“As far as I am concerned, this was done before we came on board and what the Land Department and the AGIS did was to generate from the system. First of all, if you have paid, it means that you have collected your Certificate of Occupancy C of O.

“Right of Occupancy (R of O) is like an allocation of land where you go and pay for your C of O. So, when you don’t have the C of O, it means that you have not paid. I don’t want to join issues with the Speaker or whatever but the point is that if there are people who have paid, like some people say they have paid and they have attached their receipts to show that they have paid, in such cases, yes, there are many. As to whether there will be another grace, I don’t think we will do that.

“You know, like I have always said, Nigerians don’t like to comply. These allocations were done more than 10 years ago. It was not as if it was done during our own time. And you know Abuja does not have anything other than property to tax for us to have development. So, we have been able to do justice by making sure that people are going to abide and comply. Our interest is not to have the lands back. Our interest is for them to pay so we can use the funds for the development of their city.

“Now, we are talking about roads. How will you get the roads done without people complying and paying? So, we will not. I don’t think we want to give another period of grace. After it expires, we will reallocate all those lands so other people who will be interested”, he stated.

Asked whether the constant criticisms of his actions by some partisans would slow him down, Wike said; “I have never complained of distractions. Nothing distracts me. I am very focused. Even if people are complaining, it is part of confidence. You don’t expect that you will superintend over the fears of people and then you satisfy everybody. People must complain, but I can tell you such complaints cannot distract us. We are very focused and since it is part of our job, we will continue to do our job. Forget about people saying demolition”.

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