The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked land allocations for several high-profile individuals, including state governors and political leaders, due to non-payment of required fees for their Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O).
Among the affected individuals are Bayelsa State Governor Senator Douye Diri, Imo State Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, and the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu. These figures are part of a group of 568 landowners in Maitama II, Cadastral Zone A10, Abuja, whose land allocations have been withdrawn.
The revocation follows the expiration of an extended two-week grace period granted by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for the payment of C-of-O fees. Ministerial media aide Lere Olayinka explained that the affected individuals failed to settle their bills within the stipulated timeframe.
Other prominent figures whose land allocations were revoked include former Enugu State Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and federal lawmaker Hon. Oluwole Oke.
In October 2024, the FCTA had given 3,273 landowners a two-week deadline to pay their fees or risk losing their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O). While 2,511 complied, 762 failed to meet the deadline. An additional two-week grace period was granted, but as of January 15, 2025, only 194 had made payments, leaving 568 allottees in default.
A notice from the FCTA clarified that the land rights of those who failed to pay were revoked in accordance with Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978, for contravention of the terms of their land grants. The notice emphasized that allottees who made payments before January 15, 2025, were not affected by the revocation.
