Abuja – November 22, 2023 – Viewpoint Housing News.
On November 21, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesome Wike, called for an urgent meeting with stakeholders to discuss the issuance of C of Os.
The minister’s special assistant opened the discussion with remarks on land concerns, including recoveries, fines for unauthorised title conversion, and CofOs.
He did note that they held a similar meeting with some developers and residents the previous day to notify them of the government’s plan to bill all homeowners and issue CofOs, but the outcome of the discussion was not definitive, which is why the minister had to speak with a large group of people
The minister began by stating that the FCT’s budget for the previous year was N17 billion, but only N7 billion was actually released. As a result, the administration was forced to rely solely on IGR because they had unfinished business that needed to be started in order to lessen the suffering of the FCT’s residents. Additionally, he discussed the several issues and difficulties that arise, such as the multiple or triple allocation of CofOs on a single plot of land, the noncompliance of developers with agreements, the conversion of residential homes into commercial spaces, etc.
On CofO issuance; He emphasised the benefit of having CofOs as a guarantee to own a house and also allows the benefit to enhance people’s businesses in the area of accessing loans as collateral from banks.
Part of the measures put in place by his administration for now are to implement the following:-
1. Price for all CofOs any in FCT is pegged at N5,000,000 per house in respective of the location and type of property and give 3 months only within which to pay the said amount.
2. To develop 30 km within the 6 area councils.
3. Charge heavy annual penalties to property owners who convert titles to other uses.
4. Recover backlog of revenues from ground rents etc from defaulters.
5. Introduce taxis and busses to ease transportation problems Etc
Only 6 questions where allowed from both developers and residents (4 from men and 2 from women)
Issues arising from various questions
1. An apeal was made to a. Reduce the amount.
b. Increase the time frame to say 1 year to allow people pay as all fingers are not equal and looking at the economic realities in the country.
c. To allow estates that the developers have no CofO to benefit from the general issuance of Cof Os.
d. To segregate the amount to say 1 ,2,3 bedroom’s and duplexes not to make it flat.
The Response by the minister;
1. There is no reduction on the amount but the committee will consider sagregating the amounts.
2. The duration for payment will now be only 4 months and no room for increase.
3. Estates with developers without CofOs will benefit from the exercise after due inspection by the committee.
The minister’s comments were generally concerning, but he was reluctant to grant people’s requests. He ended by stating that he could go to court if the judgement was disagreed with by anybody since 28 SAN had been hired to represent the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in land-related disputes.
