By Jane Okafor, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has said that debts owed by property owners in connection with Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) is over N300 billion.
The Daily Crucible had earlier eported that Wike revoked the land allocations belonging to some governors and other political bigwigs.
The Bayelsa and Imo States governors, Senator Diri Douye and Senator Hope Uzodimma, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu were among the 568 persons whose land allocations in Maitama II, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja were withdrawn by the Minister.
The withdrawal of the Right of Occupancy, R-of-O of the 568 land allottees were consequent upon the expiration of the extra two weeks grace period granted them to pay their Certificate of Occupancy, C-of-O bills.
Other prominent Nigerians among the 568 allottees are former Governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani, Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, federal lawmaker representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Hon. Oluwole Oke, among others.
Early October 2024, a total of 3,273 were offered two weeks to pay their bills or lose their R-of-O titles, out of which 2,511 complied, leaving 762.
The 762 allottees were further allowed another grace of two weeks to pay, but as at January 15, this year, 12 days after the expiration of the weeks, only 194 paid, leaving 568.
The Notice of Withdrawal of Right of Occupancy in Maitama II, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja, reads, “The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA wishes to inform the allottee(s)/ title holder(s) of plot(s) of land in Maitama II, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja who have failed to make payment for their Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) bills after the expiration of grace period granted by the Honourable Minister, Federal Capital Territory that their Right of Occupancy to the land/property have been withdrawn, pursuant to the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978 for contravention of the terms of grant which obligated the title / interest holders to settle all bills.”
However, speaking on Sunday during a media chat at his official residence in Life Camp, Abuja, Wike disclosed that debts owed by property owners in connection with Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) is over N300 billion.
He said the aggressive revenue drive administration in the FCT adopted helped to raise the monthly earnings from about ₦9bn when he assumed office in August 2023 to an average of ₦25bn monthly.
The Minister added that the nation’s capital generated over ₦40bn in December 2024, attributing the growth in revenue to ground rents collection and payment of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) by land allottees.
He also revealed that the FCT pays salaries to the tune of N13bn monthly.
Wike said: “We don’t get up to N13bn from VAT and the 1% from the Federal Government. So, we have to augment the IGR to be able to pay the salaries because of the new wages.
“As at the time I came, we were generating about N9bn to N10bn. Today, by the grace of God, we are not generating less than N25bn a month.
“It is because of our aggressive revenue drive. In fact, last month, we were able to generate about 40 something billion naira. Aggressive revenue drive to be able to carry out infrastructure
“It must be from taxes and when taxes are not paid how do we get development?” he asked.
“In your conscience, can you say that the FCT is justifying the revenue or the taxes you are paying? Yes, it is correct. We can beat our taxes to say we are doing that but it is not enough.”
