Wike Issues Final Warning To Abuja Landowners Over C-Of-O

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a fresh ultimatum to 762 plot owners in Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja.

The affected landowners have been given a two-week deadline to pay for their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) or face permanent revocation of their land allocations.

This directive was conveyed on Friday through a statement from Lere Olayinka, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media.

The minister emphasized that the government’s intention is not to seize people’s land but to ensure compliance with payment obligations.

“It should be recalled that on October 5, 2024, list of 3,273 allottees/title holders that were yet to pay for their C-of-O were published. They were offered two weeks to pay their bills or lose their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) titles. Out of the 3,273, a total of 2,511 complied, leaving 762,” the statement read.

The statement further revealed that on Thursday, a public notice was issued announcing the withdrawal of R-of-O titles for the 762 defaulters.

Following this notice, many of the affected plot owners reached out, seeking an opportunity to make payments. In response, Wike granted a two-week grace period for payment.

“Yesterday, a notice of withdrawal of the R-of-O titles of the 762 defaulters was published. Since then, many of the affected allottees have offered to pay, and since the primary aim of the government is to ensure payment, a two-week grace has been given.

“Consequently, the 762 allottees and the 614 others with outstanding payment on C-of-O will have till January 3, 2025, to pay, or have their R-of-O titles withdrawn, pursuant to the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978.

“After January 3, 2025, no further extension and withdrawal of the R-of-O titles of defaulters will be final,” the statement warned.

This latest ultimatum follows Wike’s decision to revoke the land allocations of several prominent figures, including former President Muhammadu Buhari, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume.