The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT0, Nyesom Wike has ordered the sealing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat in as well as 4,792 other properties in Abuja for non-payment of ground rent
Penpushing reports that the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister Lere Olayinka made this known during a press briefing on Friday in Abuja, adding that the affected failed to pay ground rent between 10 and 43 years.
The statement explained that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said it will on Monday start taking of possession of properties affected by the revocation which include Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Penpushing further reports that Olayinka was accompanied by the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, and the Director of the Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima during the briefing
The Special Assistant declared that taking possession of the properties in the Central Area, Garki, Wuse, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape districts will be done without considering their ownership.
“Ownership of the revoked 4,794 properties in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama and Guzape districts, had already reverted to the FCTA, and as from Monday, next week, the government will begin to exercise its rights of ownership on the affected landed properties.
“As usual, this will be done without consideration as to ownership of the affected landed properties. It will be purely in line with extant laws and regulations guiding the process’, Olayinka stated
Penpushing also reports that Director of the Department of Development Control, in his contributions said affected properties will be sealed and access to them restricted from Monday, adding that the authorities will decide what to do with the affected properties
The Director of Land Administration, on his part while speaking on the claim that some property owners had gone to court, said there was no court decision on the revocation, and as such, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is not restricted in the discharge of its lawful functions on the affected properties.
Penpushing also reports that he disclosed that the authority was already compiling records of compliance and non-compliance of title holders who had been in default of payment of Ground Rent for one to 10 years, even after the 21-day grace period to pay up, stressing that the government would act accordingly as soon as the records were fully compiled and analysed.
The Minister, it is recalled in March, approved the revocation of 4,794 land titles for non-payment of ground rent for more than 40 years, while the list include Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Penpushing reports that others are CONOIL Plc, Borno State Government, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), National university commission (NUC), M.R.S Investment Company Limited (owners of MRS Petrol Stations) and Kaduna State Government.
The Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, University of Calabar, Nigerian Postal Service and Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) are also affected.
FOOTNOTE: You want to share story with us? You want to advertise with us? You need publicity for product, or service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348073463653 or email penpushing@yahoo.com
