Pay Up or Lose It: Wike’s Final Warning to Abuja Landowners

By Achimi Muktar

Abuja landowners are on edge after Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), issued a fresh ultimatum to settle outstanding bills for their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) or face permanent revocation of their land titles.

In a decisive move to enforce compliance, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) announced on Thursday that land titles for 762 plots in Maitama have been revoked due to non-payment. This follows an earlier publication naming defaulters and giving them two weeks from November 26 to pay their dues.

Despite the initial warning, many landowners failed to meet the deadline, prompting the FCTA to take action. However, following a public notice and renewed payment activity from some defaulters, Wike extended the deadline by another two weeks, giving landowners until January 3, 2025, to comply.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Lere Olayinka, spokesperson for the minister, revealed the scope of the issue in a statement on Friday.

“It should be recalled that on October 5, 2024, a list of 3,273 allottees/title holders who had not paid for their C-of-O was published,” Olayinka stated. “Of these, 2,511 complied, leaving 762 defaulters.”

Thursday’s public notice announced the withdrawal of Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O) titles for these 762 plots. In addition, 614 other landowners with partial payments still face the same ultimatum.

Why This Matters

The implications of missing the January 3, 2025, deadline are clear. According to the FCTA, all defaulters will lose their land titles without further extensions, as outlined in Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978.

This crackdown underscores the FCTA’s resolve to enforce land title payments, a measure Wike says is essential for the efficient management of Abuja’s resources and infrastructure.

Government’s Primary Aim: Payment, Not Punishment

Olayinka emphasized that the goal is not to seize land arbitrarily but to encourage compliance. “Since the publication of the public notice, many of the affected allottees have offered to pay. The primary aim of the government is to ensure payment,” he said.

The two-week extension is, therefore, a final act of leniency. Landowners who fail to settle their debts by the new deadline will face irreversible consequences.

Public Reaction and Next Steps

The ultimatum has sparked mixed reactions among Abuja residents. While some applaud the government’s firm stance on enforcing regulations, others criticize the perceived heavy-handedness.

For the 762 defaulters and the 614 partially compliant landowners, the clock is ticking. Will they heed the call to pay up, or will January 3, 2025, mark the end of their claims to some of Abuja’s most coveted real estate?

As the deadline looms, one thing is clear: in Wike’s FCT, there’s no room for compromise when it comes to land compliance.