The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has given his approval for the cancellation of 21 parcels of land in Abuja’s Downtown.
Yet for the 189 title holders who were given a three-month window to develop their plots, it was a welcome reprieve.
These include the high commission of Canada as well as the embassies of Ireland, France, Republic of Korea, Philippines, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Turkey, People’s Republic of Angola, and Tanzania.
The allottees had a building plan, but they hadn’t started developing their lands in the many districts around the FCT.
Last Thursday, the minister revoked the ownership of 165 properties FCT districts of Utako; Katampe Extension; Idu Industrial Area; Asokoro; Jabi; Wuse; Wuye, Gudu and Maitama.
Last Friday, our newspaper released a list of the properties whose permits had been canceled along with their owners.
The damaged properties were associated with well-known Nigerians, including some former ministers, governors, senior politicians, and highly regarded people and businesses.
Olusade Adesola, the FCTA’s permanent secretary, said the decision was made “in the exercise of the powers granted on him under Section 28(5)(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act 1978.” Yesterday, the FCTA issued a new revocation notice.
For “continuous infringement of the terms of development of the Right of Occupation, namely non-development,” he said, the lands were cancelled.
Lowe Lintas, Tourism Company of Nigeria, Coscharis Motors, CFA Motors, and Chidol Properties are just a few of the allottees who were affected by the revocation.
Director of Media and Communication for the FCTA Muhammad Sule made another statement to announce the three-month grace period given by the minister.
He said that 189 titleholders who have received building plan approvals but have not yet started construction on their properties have been granted a three-month grace period by the minister.
The statement reads: “The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), has graciously approved a grace period of three-months from the date of this publication for the under-listed titleholders who have obtained building plan approvals to commence development of their plots; failure of which their titles shall be revoked for continued contravention of the terms of development of the Right- of –Occupancy.”
Among those given the three-month grace are 21 embassies, 168 others.
Other embassies among the tittle holders that were granted relief are embassies of Syrian Republic, Iran, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Thailand, Algeria, Trinidad and Tobago, Cote D’Ivoire, Argentina, Togo, Indonesia and several government agencies including those of the FCT Administration.
Equally given a three-month grace are the Abuja National Mosque Council, Abuja National Mosque Management Committee, Daily Times of Nigeria, Elf Petroleum, Access Bank, Federal Housing Authority, Adamu Ajuji Waziri, Isa Yuguda, Eyitayo Lambo, Abba Gana, Mohammed Abubakar Rimi, Nigerian Navy, Gamji Construction Limited, Lagos State Liaison Office, Nigeria Customs Service, John Kennedy Opara, Federal Fire Service and a host of others.
The statement told the affected property owners to start the development of their plots within the stipulated period, failing which they will have their titles revoked in line with the provisions of the law, said Sule.
The statement said the gesture has only been extended to both individuals and corporate organisations, who have shown desire to develop their property by obtaining Building Plan approvals but are yet to start proper development on their property situated within the Federal Capital City FCC.
It said: “Similarly, public institutions that have land titles within the FCT but are yet to develop same, have also been given a grace period of three months to commence development in order to avoid sanction.
