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• Urges those seeking reinstatement to write Wike •Insists PDP owes N7.6m in ground rents.
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has explained that those affected in the revoked 4,794 land titles due to non-payment of ground rents, included government institutions, private organisations, and individual property owners.
It added that the outstanding debts accumulated over the periods range from 10 to 30 years.
Wike had said the revocation of land titles were due to unpaid ground rent spanning over 40 years.
The Director of Land, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, stated this while briefing journalists after the FCTA Executive meeting in Abuja.
According to him, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national secretariat owes N7,603,504 in unpaid ground rent for its central area property. Other entities affected by the revocation included the Nigerian Postal Authority, Central Bank of Nigeria, NNPC, Nigerian Universities Commission, ConOil, Borno State Government, NDDC, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Environment and the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company
Nwankwoeze said: “PDP as of today, for the central area property, is owing N7,603,504 as ground rent, from 2006 to 2025.
“Yes, just like you said, the media has been awash with the revocation notice sent to the PDP. But, the truth is that the minister revoked 4,794 titles. The PDP is just one of them. The title we are talking about that belongs to the PDP is only one, the one in the central area. Where they are occupying as their national headquarters is not their property. That is the clarification that people need to know.
“The property belongs to Samaila Maman Ofi, who bought it from Wadata and got his papers registered by way of assignment. So, on that property, 28 years’ (from 1998 to 2025) worth of ground rent is being owed.
“They are owing N2,848,173.36 for 28 years. And we put out notices for people to come and pay or risk having their titles revoked. From 2023 to now, that’s about a year and a half from when those publications started, they did not pay.”
The Director of lands added: “And the Minister had to do what he needed to do, not just on that but on all other titles. And people are telling me we are revoking two properties belonging to the PDP. That’s not true. It’s the only one that belongs to the PDP, the one in the central area.
“The one they are owing 20 years’ worth of ground rent on is from 2006 to 2025. The one in Zone 5, where they are currently occupying as their national headquarters, does not belong to the PDP. It belongs to Samaila Mamangofu.
“And the revocation notice has been served on him at his Kaduna address, the address on record. We did not serve any such notice to the PDP. The only one we served them was the one for the central area.
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“You don’t serve a revocation notice on a tenant or an occupier. You serve it on the title holder, that’s what the law says. So, for clarity purposes, it’s only one property owned by the PDP that was revoked under those circumstances.
“I want to also mention that we are talking about 4,794 titles. There are so many people who are affected. Government institutions, private organisations, private individuals. The Nigerian Postal Authority is there, the Central Bank of Nigeria is there, NNPC is there, IMF is there, the Nigerian Universities Commission is there, NNPC is there, ConOil is there, Borno State Government is there, NDDC is there, the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria is there, the Federal Ministry of Environment is there, the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company is there and so many others.
“It’s not only PDP. So, I don’t know where the information about the revocation being targeted at the PDP is coming from. So, let that be noted by the public, please. Thank you very much.”
Nwankwoeze noted: “So we implore everyone who has not paid, not just in the A districts, that’s the phase one districts, to please go and pay because we will be coming to do the same thing in the phase two districts.
“The cadastral zone that starts with B is phase two. Anyone that starts with C is phase three. So, Gudu, Utako, Mabushi, Jabi, Daki-biyu, Katampe, Katampe Extension, and all of those districts, Kado, will soon be coming to them. So please, everybody should go and pay his ground rent.
“I also want to remind you that that’s not the only obligation you have under the grant. You also need to pay your right of occupancy bills and get your certificates. So, these are things that are very important for all our allottees to deal with.”
Felix Obuah, the coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), on his part said: “Well, as I said the other day, those titles have been revoked and those properties have reverted to the FCT. And of course, in due course, the administration will take possession of them.
“I want to let the public know that it is simply because people are not fulfilling their obligations under the grants that these things are happening.
“Anybody or any organisation whose title is revoked by the minister has a window to approach the minister or write to the minister, appealing for reinstatement of such title.
“And the minister, in some cases, deserving cases, has approved the reinstatement of those titles.”
He also said plans have been concluded to purchase some equipment, which include SIM card wheel loader 1, Caterpillar wheel loader 950 GC 1, Excavator 320 GS 1, Caterpillar excavator 323 1 Dozer D6, and D6 1.
“Today, we seek the approval for the procurement of some critical earth-moving machines and equipment for the Department of Development Control under the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, AMMC, in favour of Matrak Nigerian Limited. That was approved by the Council to the tune of N1,940,572,410 inclusive of VAT, with a due period of three weeks, and the EXCO gave approval. By the special grace of God, with the purchase of this earth-moving equipment, it will ease the work of the Development Control under AMMC,” he said.
The acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), Michael Ango, said the Exco also approved for the agency the procurement of Microsoft 365 license at N242,827,450.
