Abuja – February 14, 2024 – Viewpoint Housing News.
Over 9,671 title owners who neglected to pay their ground rent in 2023 run the possibility of losing their lands if they don’t make the payment within two weeks, according to a warning issued by the FCT Administration (FCTA).
Foreign embassies top the list; according to the administration, they owe more than $5.3 million for 2023 payments that they will not make.
Others include businesses and people that owe a combined N2,205,079,937, according to a statement signed by FCTA’s Director of Information and Communication, Muhammad Hazat Sule, and published in many national dailies.
The publication stated : “The FCT Administration hereby reminds the general public, particularly allottees of land(s) within the FCT, of their obligation to the FCTA as stipulated in the covenanted terms of the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to wit to pay in advance without demand to the Honourable Minister, FCT, the annual ground rent from the first day of January of each year.
“All allottees, property owners, as well as beneficiaries of the sale of federal government houses in the FCT who could not pay or settle their outstanding ground rent for the year 2023 are hereby advised in their interest to ensure payment within two weeks from the date of this publication; failure of which such titles shall be revoked.”
Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, requested the territory’s elite and citizens to pay their ground rent and taxes in order to provide sufficient financing for projects and the development of the territory’s infrastructure.
The minister made the appeal on Tuesday, during an inspection of ongoing projects, such as the Wuye Bridge being built by Arab Contractors, the vice president’s residence being constructed by Julius Berger, the Asokoro and Area 1 roundabouts on the Outer Southern Motorway being built by CGC Construction, and the roads D6 and B12 being handled by Julius Berger.
Wike said, “First of all, whether inflation or not, that’s why we are here, to solve problems. With the taxes people pay, we try as much as we can to allocate it to the priority projects. Again, we don’t allow variation. Why? Because we also try to pay as at when due; so the issue of variation does not come in.”
Wike also called for the support of residents of the FCT, noting that the paid taxes and ground rents were being managed judiciously to ensure the delivery of various projects.
